The British government has introduced a draft bill to introduce total digital surveillance. Details about every email, phone call or text message in the U.K. (sic) would be logged — and they say that those worried about the program are all either criminals or conspiracy theorists.
If (or when) this Bill becomes law, providers would collect IP addresses, the details of customers' electronic hardware, and subscriber information including names, addresses, and payment information.
Physical communications would also be monitored: Address details written on envelopes would be copied and parcel tracking information would be logged as well.
The state would be able to keep all the data up to a year, or longer if it was the subject of legal proceedings.
The monitoring will be done without the need for the police or agencies to apply for a warrant. No one will know the extent of the monitoring, its effects, nor the conclusions that the authorities may draw from the data.
