What data goodies are contained in such collections is unstated in the report, though they can contain \u201chundreds to millions\u201d of records. As such it is understandable that Eric King, deputy director of Privacy International, is rather upset at the practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cSecretly ordering companies to hand over their records in bulk, to be data-mined at will, without independent sign off or oversight, is a loophole in the law the size of a double-decker bus,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe use of these databases, some volunteered, some stolen, some obtained by bribery or coercion, has\u00a0already been abused, and will continue to be, until the practice is overhauled, and proper protections put in place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Home Office, whose secretary Theresa \u201cJackboot\u201d May has been at the forefront of stamping on British freedom, maintains that such powers are necessary to stop the terrorists slaughtering us all, and that there is appropriate oversight \u2013 a view which appears na\u00efve, careless or malignant.<\/p>\n

At least the Brits can take comfort from the fact that unlike the Yanks we do not endow our snooping bills with names as Orwellian as the Patriot Act and the Freedom Act. It is a shame we cannot say the same for their contents.<\/p>\n