Government Surveillance Powers Raise Business Privacy Concerns

Jun 12, 2002 •

Anthony Pell

1 min read

Topics Covered

data privacy hacker threat government access business concerns surveillance control

Businesses fear that hackers and private investigators will abuse sweeping new government powers to access e-mail, telephone and Web browsing records unless strict controls are put in place.. . . Businesses fear that hackers and private investigators will abuse sweeping new government powers to access e-mail, telephone and Web browsing records unless strict controls are put in place.

A vast swathe of government bodies, from local councils to the health department and the fire service, will have the power to demand communications data, under proposals due to go before Parliament.

The move represents a significant extension of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which was originally intended to give law enforcement agencies the ability to access data to fight crime and terrorism.

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