UK ISPs charged with recording emails

Barron · 04-09-2009, 08:24 AM

Written by NetGuide Contributor
Tuesday, 07 April 2009
A new law which requires ISPs to store details of every single email sent and received came into force in the UK yesterday.

FlagThe new law states that ISPs must record information about every email sent and every Web site visited by their users, in case the information is required by certain public bodies, such as police, health authorities and local councils.

The law changes, coming in the wake of the 2005 terrorist bombings in London, have been decried by many critics, not only as a waste of tax payers’ money (as not only will legitimate emails be stored, but also every spam email which is sent or received), but by human rights groups, who have also expressed concern that the new law exposes computer users to the scrutiny of some 500 public bodies.

Three billion emails are thought to be sent in the UK each day. The new law will require internet service providers to record who sent an email, to whom and when.

In the UK similar laws regarding telephone calls are already in place.

04-09-2009, 08:24 AM	#1
Barron Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 358	UK ISPs charged with recording emails Written by NetGuide Contributor Tuesday, 07 April 2009 A new law which requires ISPs to store details of every single email sent and received came into force in the UK yesterday. FlagThe new law states that ISPs must record information about every email sent and every Web site visited by their users, in case the information is required by certain public bodies, such as police, health authorities and local councils. The law changes, coming in the wake of the 2005 terrorist bombings in London, have been decried by many critics, not only as a waste of tax payers’ money (as not only will legitimate emails be stored, but also every spam email which is sent or received), but by human rights groups, who have also expressed concern that the new law exposes computer users to the scrutiny of some 500 public bodies. Three billion emails are thought to be sent in the UK each day. The new law will require internet service providers to record who sent an email, to whom and when. In the UK similar laws regarding telephone calls are already in place.