#RSS Feed for Telegraph View articles - Telegraph.co.uk [p?c1=2&c2=6035736&cv=2.0&cj=1] Accessibility links * Skip to article * Skip to navigation [telegraph_print_190.gif] Telegraph.co.uk ___________________ Submit Search - enhanced by OpenText Friday 22 January 2016 * Home * Video * News * World * Sport * Finance * Comment * Culture * Travel * Life * Women * Fashion * Luxury * Tech * Cars * Film * TV * Blog * Columnists * Personal View * Telegraph View * Letters * Cartoon Archive * My Telegraph * Politics Advertisement 1. Home» 2. Comment» 3. Telegraph View Privacy on parade Government plans to snoop on our internet and phone traffic raise practical as well as ethical considerations. The authorities will be able to find out to whom we are sending texts and emails; whom we phone, and when; which websites we visit and even which video games we play The authorities will be able to find out to whom we are sending texts and emails; whom we phone, and when; which websites we visit and even which video games we play Photo: PA By Telegraph View 8:35PM BST 14 Jun 2012 Comments Comments At a cost of £1.8 billion over the next decade, the Government plans to have the details of all internet traffic and mobile-phone use stored for access by the police and intelligence services. Under the provisions of the Communications Data Bill, published in draft form yesterday, the authorities will be able to find out to whom we are sending texts and emails; whom we phone, and when; which websites we visit and even which video games we play. It is unarguable that legislation in this area has not kept pace with the revolution in communications technology. The police and security services are warning that, as a consequence, their ability to tackle serious crime and terrorism is being undermined. That is a troubling development. However, it is in the nature of law enforcement agencies to seek to maximise their powers of surveillance whenever they can. It is the duty of Parliament to subject such attempts to the most rigorous scrutiny. In this case, such scrutiny is particularly important, for many will regard these powers as alarmingly intrusive. They risk tilting the balance between the security of the state and the liberty of the individual too far in the wrong direction. There are practical as well as ethical considerations. The state’s record on data security leaves much to be desired, while many will fear that the data could be put to uses not intended, particularly by the police. On this score, the Government has sensibly decided to limit local councils’ access to the data. The way some local authorities have been abusing the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act by using surveillance powers to tackle problems such as dog-fouling suggests a cavalier approach to personal privacy. Parliament must ensure that the new legislation has sufficient safeguards to prevent such abuse by all agencies. 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