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Security organisations like the police canalready get information from telecomsbusinesses, like BT, telling them when, howand where you use mobile telephones andlandlines. Because of the way thatcompanies already record this kind of information, it's easy for them to access andunderstand.However, it is much more difficult to extractthis kind of information from the internet.The
Home Office
 wants to bring in new lawswhich make it easier to do so. They wouldalso like to make sure that these laws cancope with any new technology that might
Protecting the publicin a changingcommunicationsenvironment
 
What powers do the governmentalready have?
Security organisations, emergency services and in some caseslocal authorities already have powers which let them see:
•
Who is talking to who
•
From where
•
To where
•
At what timeThis is for all sorts of communication – landlines, mobilephones, and the internet. They are not allowed to access whatyou are talking about, and they must have a real legal reason forlooking, such as:
•
National security
•
Preventing crime and disorder
•
Public safety
•
Protecting the economy
•
Collecting any tax or fines
•
Identifying dead people, or people who cannot identifythemselves, or their next of kin.Security services must keep to the law when they ask for thisinformation, and ask for it in the right way.
 
What are my rights?
If these reasons don't apply, then your information may beprotected by the European law of Human Rights, which saysthat your private life, your home, and the things you writeand say must be respected.You can complain to the Information Commissioner if youfeel that the security services or other organisations aren'tusing your information correctly. The information they getshould be used fairly and lawfully, and for a real legal reason.The information must be:
specific
– not just blanket information but limited toparticular dates, times, and places.
accurate
in line with
your rights
kept
safely,
and
 
not for
too long
not transferred to other countries
without proper protection
You also have a right to find out what information anybusiness or other organisation holds about you.
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