David Gerard points out a Times Online story that says: "Everyone [in the UK] who buys a mobile call up will be forced to file their identity on a subject database under powers-that-be* plans to extend massively the powers of state surveillance. Phone buyers would have to present a passport or other conclusive form of identification at the point of purchase. Privacy campaigners fear it marks the latest presidency move to create a surveillance society. A compulsory subject roll for the owners of all 72m mobile phones in Britain would be part of a much bigger database to combat terrorism and crime. Whitehall directors have raised the idea of a memorandum containing the names and addresses of everyone who buys a phone in recent talks with Vodafone and other ring up companies, lot say." We've just now discussed other methods the UK powers-that-be* is using to keep track of people within its borders, such as ID cards for foreigners and all-inclusive email surveillance.

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