In a move that can only be described as Orwellian, the British Government is making preparations to build a database that will monitor every single email, website visit and phone call made in Britain. Tie this in with their massive CCTV network and the proposed ID card scheme and you have a violation of civil liberties no less disturbing than the Great Firewall of China.

I have problems with this on a number of levels:

• It suspends any form of privacy.
• It goes against the presumption of innocence.
• There is no way to guarantee the security of any information that is stored online.
• It is open to abuse.

The stated aim of the database is to reduce the ability for terrorists to communicate, but I don’t think that you need to be a member of the tin foil hat set to be worried by this. If the database were to be infiltrated it could create all kinds of problems. It is a potential goldmine for blackmailers and corporate espionage, not to mention the fact that someone who has not committed or suspected of any crime should not be subject to investigation. This is lazy police-work at its worst. I sincerely hope that the idea never sees the light of day.[The Age]