UK considers giving teeth to privacy enforcers

Privacy Man will keep your identity secret
Made with Marvel's hero generator

As this ZDNet article tells it, the British government is considering proposals to broaden the privacy protection powers of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), an independent watchdog whose purpose is to "promote access to official information and to protect personal information."

A proposal for beefing up the ICO, reported ZDNet, recommended that the group be given the power to raid companies or entities they suspect of committing a "data breach."

How great is this?  A privacy task force strike team?  At the slightest hint that a SSN might be sitting on an unprotected laptop somewhere, these guys (and women) helicopter in, secure the premises, handcuff the privacy slobs and gingerly rescue the laptop, perhaps carrying it out in a baby blanket, as triumphant orchestra music plays.

Or, even better, how about this scene:

A little old lady is talking to a telemarketer. 

Telemarketer: "Your social security number, please?"

Lady: "Do I have to?"

Telemarketer: "Yes, I'm afraid so."

Lady: "All right, then. It's 553--wha??"

Suddenly, a masked crusader glides in, grabs the phone, and--SLAM!--swiftly hangs it up. 

Lady: "Oh, thank you, mister!  I wasn't sure how to get off the line."

ICO: "All in a day's work, ma'am."

Lady: "But, who are you?"

ICO: "Just call me Privacy Man.  And remember, just because it's a Social Security Number, doesn't mean your friends should know it."

And with that, Privacy Man disappears into the bright night.