The British government plans to build a $39.17 million Internet
surveillance centre to monitor criminal Internet activity. The Home
Office was quick to add that this system would not have the ability to
examining everybody’s e-mail.
“There’s no way they [the security services] are going to be trawling
through everybody’s e-mails. It will provide assistance to law
enforcement agencies,” a Home Office spokesperson said.
“Every intercept will be obtained in same way it is now — a warrant has
to be signed by the secretary of state (the home secretary),” the
spokesperson added.
The surveillance project, which was approved and announced at the last
budget would target criminals who encrypted material, for example,
pedophiles the Home Office said.
The new centre, which will be called the Government Technical Assistance
Centre, should be up and running by the end of the year and will be
sited at the London headquarters of Britain’s MI5 domestic security
service.
Civil rights groups have said the new scheme is an infringement of
people’s rights.
