Government plans travel database
The government is compiling a database to track and store the
international travel records of millions of Britons.
Computerised records of all 250 million journeys made by individuals in
and out of the UK each year will be kept for up to 10 years.
The government says the database is essential in the fight against
crime, illegal immigration and terrorism.
But opposition MPs and privacy campaigners fear it is a significant step
towards a surveillance society.
The intelligence centre will store names, addresses, telephone numbers,
seat reservations, travel itineraries and credit card details of
travellers.
Big Brother
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said: "The government seems to be
building databases to track more and more of our lives.
"The justification is always about security or personal protection. But
the truth is that we have a government that just can't be trusted over
these highly sensitive issues. We must not allow ourselves to become a
Big Brother society."
A spokesman for campaign group NO2ID said: "When your travel plans, who
you are travelling with, where you are going to and when are being
recorded you have to ask yourself just how free is this country?"
The e-Borders scheme covers flights, ferries and rail journeys and the
Home Office says similar schemes run in other countries including the
US, Canada, Spain and Australia.
Minister of State for borders and immigration Phil Woolas said the
government was determined to ensure the UK's border remained one of the
toughest in the world.
"Our hi-tech electronic borders system will allow us to count all
passengers in and out of the UK and [it] targets those who aren't
willing to play by our rules," he said.
"Already e-Borders has screened over 75 million passengers against
immigration, customs and police watch-lists, leading to over 2,700
arrests for crimes such as murder, rape and assault."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
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