There were outcries when the British government first proposed a giant database covering all phone calls, e-mails and Internet use in the country. But according to an article in the Guardian, a upcoming white paper on the database is including the option to send the databse out for tender to be run by private companies.
The database, whose costs could reach £12 billion, wouldn’t record content, but would have details of sites visited, along with senders, times and recipients of e-mails and calls. According to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, such a database is vital in fighting terrorism. Assurances have been given that the database would be secure and the information not misused.
