Now at the start of 2002, British surveillance laws are at risk of infringing what are seen by some as basic human rights. Huge demands have been placed on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to stockpile traffic data on customers under the new Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill (ATCS),. . .
Now at the start of 2002, British surveillance laws are at risk of infringing what are seen by some as basic human rights. Huge demands have been placed on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to stockpile traffic data on customers under the new Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill (ATCS), and the Information Commissioner has characterised the requirements as "disproportionate general surveillance".

Traffic data collected under the voluntary Code of Practice within the ATCS would provide a "complete map of a person's private life" according to the Foundation for Information Policy Research (FIRP). Records will include an individual's geographical location determined through their mobile phone, the sender and recipient information from emails, a complete log of a person's Internet sessions including their IP address, and the address of all Web sites visited.

The Data Protection Act 1998 states that a communications provider must only retain traffic data for the length of time necessary for legitimate billing purposes. But contained within the Act is a provision for cases of national security, where personal data may be stored for longer periods of time in order to assist in the prevention or detection of crime.

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