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| UK 'must log' phone and web use | UK 'must log' phone and web use |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| All internet and phone traffic should be recorded to help the fight against terrorism, according to one of the UK's former spy chiefs. | All internet and phone traffic should be recorded to help the fight against terrorism, according to one of the UK's former spy chiefs. |
| Civil rights campaigners have criticised ministers' plans to log details of such contact as "Orwellian". | Civil rights campaigners have criticised ministers' plans to log details of such contact as "Orwellian". |
| But Sir David Pepper, who ran the GCHQ listening centre for five years, told the BBC lives would be at risk if the state could not track communication. | But Sir David Pepper, who ran the GCHQ listening centre for five years, told the BBC lives would be at risk if the state could not track communication. |
| Agencies faced "enormous pressure" to keep up with technology, he said. | Agencies faced "enormous pressure" to keep up with technology, he said. |
| "It's a constant arms race, if you like. As more technology, different technology becomes available, the balance will shift constantly." | "It's a constant arms race, if you like. As more technology, different technology becomes available, the balance will shift constantly." |
| The work of GCHQ, which provides intelligence on foreign and domestic threats, is so secretive that until the 1980s the government refused to discuss its existence. | The work of GCHQ, which provides intelligence on foreign and domestic threats, is so secretive that until the 1980s the government refused to discuss its existence. |
| The thing you worry about most is the attack that you haven't seen coming Sir David Pepper class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6554&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| In his first interview since departing as its director in 2008, Sir David told BBC2 programme Who's Watching You that the agency had "very sophisticated targets". | In his first interview since departing as its director in 2008, Sir David told BBC2 programme Who's Watching You that the agency had "very sophisticated targets". |
| "There are plenty of people who will do all they can to make themselves difficult to find. | "There are plenty of people who will do all they can to make themselves difficult to find. |
| "It puts enormous pressure on you. Everybody in the agency is acutely aware that if they don't do their job properly one of the consequences may be another terrorist outrage. | "It puts enormous pressure on you. Everybody in the agency is acutely aware that if they don't do their job properly one of the consequences may be another terrorist outrage. |
| "The thing you worry about most is the attack that you haven't seen coming." | "The thing you worry about most is the attack that you haven't seen coming." |
| Last year, then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced plans for a database to record details of the times and dates of messages and phone calls but said the content of conversations would not be kept. | Last year, then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced plans for a database to record details of the times and dates of messages and phone calls but said the content of conversations would not be kept. |
| She said such data was used as "important evidence in 95% of serious crime cases" and in almost all security service operations. | She said such data was used as "important evidence in 95% of serious crime cases" and in almost all security service operations. |
| 'Pervasive' | 'Pervasive' |
| Details of the times, dates, duration and locations of mobile phone calls, numbers called, website visited and addresses e-mailed are already stored by telecoms companies for 12 months under a voluntary agreement. | Details of the times, dates, duration and locations of mobile phone calls, numbers called, website visited and addresses e-mailed are already stored by telecoms companies for 12 months under a voluntary agreement. |
| However, the Liberal Democrats said the government's plans were "incompatible with a free country and a free people". | However, the Liberal Democrats said the government's plans were "incompatible with a free country and a free people". |
| In February, the Lords constitution committee said electronic surveillance and collection of personal data had become "pervasive" in British society. | In February, the Lords constitution committee said electronic surveillance and collection of personal data had become "pervasive" in British society. |
| Its members said the situation threatened to undermine democracy. | Its members said the situation threatened to undermine democracy. |
| However, Sir David said he was speaking out to help people understand that agencies were there to protect them. | However, Sir David said he was speaking out to help people understand that agencies were there to protect them. |
| Who's Watching You? will be broadcast Monday 8 June at 9pm on BBC Two and will also be available on BBC iPlayer . | Who's Watching You? will be broadcast Monday 8 June at 9pm on BBC Two and will also be available on BBC iPlayer . |