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Private company to run government database
Plans could go out to tender 31 December 2008 10:15 GMT
A private company could run the government's controversial billion pound database, the BBC reports.

The management of the database, that is to contain details of everybody in the UK's telephone calls, emails and internet use, could go out for tender, according...
Mutiny over government database plans
Home Office revolt likely over "spying" plans 22 October 2008 12:41 GMT
The Home Secretary is facing a mutiny from her own staff over government plans to create a database of where UK citizens send emails, what websites they look at, who they call and even which phone they buy and when.

The "spy database" proposals gained even more...
French fight police database plans
While UK looks set to go ahead with its own database plans 19 September 2008 12:19 GMT
The UK government is coming under fire from all sides over its plans to create a massive database of details of all of our phone calls, internet activity and emails.

Meanwhile, over the Channel, the French government has had to scrap plans that would have seen...
Gov data scandal - info on 84,000 prisoners lost
Addresses of some of UK's most prolific and serious offenders 22 August 2008 10:51 GMT
The government's ability to keep data safe has gone from a little amusing, to embarassing to downright ridiculous.

And perhaps dangerous with this latest leak.

The Home Office has admitted that an unencrypted memory stick has gone missing, containing...
Councils given right to spy on us
Surveillance of emails and internet records from next year 13 August 2008 10:51 GMT
From next year, "they" really are going to be watching you...

The Home Office has awarded local councils and health authorities the power to spy on emails and internet activities from next year.

This is part of a nationwide bid by the government...
Privacy guru attacks Gov database plans
Would be "a step too far for the British way of life" 17 July 2008 11:41 GMT
When the government announced plans to create a massive database of information including who we call, who we email and what we view on the Internet, there was a massive outcry.

Now the UK's privacy tsar has added his own concerns to those of members of the...
VIDEO: Tech week in view on Megawhat News
Our very own take on the big stories of the week in video 23 May 2008 17:55 GMT
Switch on Megawhat TV now for our round-up of the biggest news stories of the week; and what we thought of them in a nice, neat, and concise vid.

This week we tackle the Yahoo and Microsoft saga; whether mobile companies are ripping us off; the Government's...
Comment: Is the UK becoming a surveillance society?
What happens if the data gets lost? 23 May 2008 15:00 GMT
On 21 November last year, chancellor Alistair Darling admitted that details of 25 million child benefit recipients had been lost.

The records included confidential details such as bank and building society details, National Insurance numbers, addresses and...
VIDEO: Megawhat news - Virgin Media threatens illegal downloaders
Catch up with the tech news web tv show 4 April 2008 17:22 GMT
Switch on Megawhat TV now for our roundup of the biggest stories of the week from the world of gadgets and technology ... and what we think about them.

In the headlines this week - Virgin Media threatens "three strikes and you're out" policy for illegal downloaders;...
Government publishes report on protecting kids online
Monitoring sex offenders is main focus 4 April 2008 10:51 GMT
The government has today published its recommendations to help protect children as they surf the Internet.

The Telegraph leaked one of the recommendations recently - that the 999 emergency details be displayed on all networking sites, but the report by Home...
Another data loss for government
Highly confidential CD found in eBay auction laptop 29 February 2008 16:02 GMT
Tabloid newsdesks across the country are getting ready to have yet another pop at the Civil Service after a third embarrassing security leak.

A highly confidential Home Office disk has been found hidden in a laptop computer, which sold on eBay.

The...