As the UK “government” tries to push forward its surveillance state agenda, Techweek Europe reports that the UK police are the world’s greediest for wanting access to Skype users’ personal data. Here are a couple of snippets from the Techweek report:
In 2012, the UK was the source of 1,268 requests for Skype user information, while the whole of the US made only 1,154 requests, and German police made a paltry 685. The UK was looking for information on 2,720 different users in its requests.
If the Snoopers’ Charter is passed into law then this is just a small part of the kinds of information the police will be looking for on everyone. Remember, in surveillance states everyone is a criminal. It’s just a case of finding the evidence to get them convicted.
More interestingly (or worryingly)
In 50 cases, UK police requests were rejected for not meeting legal requirements.
This shows a disregard for the law and due process by the police themselves. Will those who authorised and submitted the flawed requests be taken to task?
I’m sure we all know the answer to that.
In the meantime, questions still persist about Skype and privacy.
Non-content data, such as SkypeIDs, names, email accounts, billing information and call detail records were handed over. Microsoft did not give figures for how much non-content information was passed on.
Make of that what you will.