27 Mar 2009

Centralised database 'a security risk'

Plans for a centralised government database which stores public information in the hope of catching terrorists may actually but people at risk, a web blog claims.

Spy Blog, which promotes public awareness of privacy safeguards, claims if any mistakes are made during routine investigations, innocent people may be accused of crimes they did not commit.

Errors which result in misdirected email and advertising cause minimal upset, but mistakes in terror suspect matches are far more serious, the organisation claims.

It comment: "This will lead to guilt by association of innocent people and will also divert scarce investigative resources away from the real terrorists or spies."

Any scheme which can result in such errors is "wrong" and should not be attempted, the website concludes.

David Ormand, the cabinet office's former security and intelligence co-ordinator, recently claimed some aspects of modern intelligence access involves intrusive methods which come at the expense of privacy rights.