The draft Communications Data Bill – the ‘Snoopers’ Charter’ – is currently up for consultation before a specially put together Joint Parliamentary Committee. The consultation period has been relatively short – it ends on 23rd August – and at a time when many people are away on holiday and while many other have been enjoying (and being somewhat distracted by) the Olympic Games.

Even so, it’s very important – not just because what is being proposed is potentially highly damaging, but because it’s a field in which the government has been, in my opinion, very poorly advised and significantly misled. There is a great deal of expertise around – particularly on the internet – but in general, as in so many areas of policy, the government seems to be very unwilling to listen to the right people. I’ve blogged on the general area a number of times before – most directly on ‘Why does the government always get it wrong?‘.

All this means that it would be great if people made submissions – for details see here.

via Snoopers’ Charter Consultation « Paul Bernal’s Blog.