Forget about the Man from U.N.C.L.E. or the C.I.A.  According to OhMyNews, there’s some real undercover action afoot across the waters. The United Kingdom and a few other European countries are working on developing a technology that will spy on Internet searches and cell phone records, including calls and text messages.

These Internet records, cell phone calls and text messages will be used for “security” purposes. Yes, routing out criminals and terrorists.  The idea is to store all of this information in a central database to be accessed by hundreds of public organizations.  Some records, which consist of times, dates and cell phone contacts will be stored for at least a year. Internet searches and instant messages with be recorded and tracked as well. It’s claimed that none of the actual content of this information will be saved, just the information that identifies who sent what, where, and when.

Apparently, invading an entire world’s privacy isn’t cheap.  Storing all that data coming in at about 50 million pounds.  The nation is surveillance crazy.  They already monitor their citizens through CCTV and have one surveillance camera for every 14 citizens. Now they’re tapping into their personal information via the Internet without any concern for privacy.

This method of operation doesn’t seem to have any benefits other than treating everyone as if they’re guilty of a crime, then sorting them out later.  The opportunity for misuse is phenomenal.  What kind of laws will they enforce to protect this information, and how secure will this database be?  Every hacker in the world would be attempting to access it, just to do it.   Picture it.  People everywhere having their personal information posted to the Internet for anyone to view, or steal.

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