ICO: Databases never ‘risk free’

The UK's data privacy watchdog has warned on government plans to retain details of people's internet sessions and phone calls.

Last week, home secretary Jacqui Smith laid out the plans, which are to be included in the Data Communications Bill, expected to hit parliament next year. She said the goal was to maintain records of calls and internet sessions, but denied content would be recorded.

This week, reports suggested the government was set to require ID from anyone buying a pay as you go phone, in order to track their use.

This summer, Information Commissioner Richard Thomas called such schemes a "step too far for the British way of life," and called for a public debate on the proposals. Now, the ICO has said: "Creating huge databases containing personal information is never a risk-free option as it is not possible to fully eliminate the danger that the data will fall into the wrong hands."

"It is therefore of paramount importance that proposals threatening such intrusion into our lives are fully debated," the ICO statement continued. "We welcome the fact that the government intends to fully consult the public on any scheme it brings forward."

The watchdog added that precise details of the proposals are still unclear, but said it would study them and respond to the government as soon as it was possible.