Saturday, September 13, 2003
Does David Blunkett actually believe that no-one has a right to privacy? Plans for storing the DNA of everyone, mandatory ID cards and while he's on a roll he wants to force ISPs and phone companies to keep detailed records on usage for up to 12 months. I love this paragraph.
The voluntary code of practice published yesterday has been delayed for more than 18 months because the communications industry sees it as unworkable and has consistently refused to sign up to it. But yesterday the government made clear that if the voluntary approach did not work, it would force the companies to store the data.
Which makes me now think of Blunkett as Midas: "For the last three hours there has been a voluntary arrangement with the waves for them to retreat down the beach of their own accord. As they have refused to do that I'm now making it mandatory that they withdraw."
The voluntary code of practice published yesterday has been delayed for more than 18 months because the communications industry sees it as unworkable and has consistently refused to sign up to it. But yesterday the government made clear that if the voluntary approach did not work, it would force the companies to store the data.
Which makes me now think of Blunkett as Midas: "For the last three hours there has been a voluntary arrangement with the waves for them to retreat down the beach of their own accord. As they have refused to do that I'm now making it mandatory that they withdraw."
