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Internet Use

In the year 2000 the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill was introduced, which requires that every UK service provider has to monitor the websites we visit and give the information to MI5 Headquarters, Why? You tell me.

By 2009 the government plans to extend the rules to force ISP's to keep records of the sites visited using our home computers, they will also have access to e-mail accounts and be able to view every e-mail that has been sent or received. Web pages which are viewed could be used as evidence in court to help convict terror suspects and sexual offenders.

To date the government has lost child benefit discs which were not encrypted, a disc containing a list of foreign criminals who are in Britain, eleven of which have committed further crimes and lost personal details of 65000 people who file pension claims.

How can people be expected not to worry about all the surveillance the government seem to think is necessary when the public can't trust the Government to safeguard personal details that we have managed to keep safe all our lives.

A poll in the Daily Mirror found that:

• 17 % Believe the government can be trusted to keep their personal information completely confidential.
• 48 % Believe the government and public sector authority’s holds too much personal information about them.
• 57% Believe the UK has become a surveillance society.