Fighting Terrorism Vs Risk To Honest Internet Users

[CluckyChick]

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170808-tracking-terrorists-online-might-invade-your-privacy

Personally I never lose any sleep over the possibility of anyone hacking into my not-very-interesting emails, and I most definitely want the security services to fight terrorism effectively. This aspect of the above news article about the Investigatory Powers Act is worrying though:
"Now with the real-time access, scammers could be able to accurately reference recent online activities, making their fraudulent emails appear all that more legitimate."

Opinions?

[ToraToraTora]

well the data can only be obtained with a warrant so I guess the subject of the investigation will be on the radar anyway. It's no different to a house search with a warrant really. Though I suppose this could be misused by the ISPs.

[Peter Pedant]

er I am not sure that data collection by our masters is warrant only

in fact I am sure it isnt - since RIPA - a more senior police officer can authorise it - but he cant authorise himself ( hem hem)

I am more worried about what is done with it
once it is in their maw
( RIPA being used to track down dog crappers etc)
sort of the snowden side of things
or roper - the swede in the ecuador embassy
no wonder they are both political refugees

[ToraToraTora]

The ISPs have to collect it but the authorities need a warrant to obtain it according to the link anyway.
"The Act first came into effect on 29 November 2016. From that point, all telecommunication services were compelled to store records of all electronic communications and record people’s internet browsing history, as well as, when served with a warrant, allow the government access to this information."

[ichkeria]

"Personally I never lose any sleep over the possibility of anyone hacking into my not-very-interesting emails"

You might not want to lose sleep over it, but criminals are far more likely to hack into your emails than the government. And the worry about this is not, actually, that someone in the local police will knock on your door about those adult websites you were visiting (which lets face it is the actual, unspoken concern usually :-) ) but that people with evil intent will steal your password, your bank account details,even your online identity. Not sure I really understand
"Now with the real-time access, scammers could be able to accurately reference recent online activities, making their fraudulent emails appear all that more legitimate."
What matters is content, not really "metadata". We always need to be alert to the scammers etc, but the real worry for many rather is that crypto-cracking "back doors" might be introduced into comms for crime prevention purposes, when want we really need is more encryption not less. When we read that Islamic terrorists used whatsapp to communincate before one of the London attacks, it gets any self respecting Home Secretary jumping around. It's hard to know who how you can ever really keep ahead of technology. You or I can, if we really want to draw attention to ourselves, easily encrypt our emails using encryption that the top crypto-devices in the world would take years to break. At least with the metadata at its disposal if necessary there is something for legitimate "snoopers" to go on.