Online privacy: UK Home Office to write blank cheque for 'snoopers' charter'
Posted in: Government & Policy at 15/06/2012 14:01
The government is to offer a blank cheque to internet and phone firms that will be required to track everyone's email, Twitter, Facebook and other internet use under legislation to be published on Thursday.
The Home Office has confirmed it will foot the bill, thought to run into tens and possibly hundreds of millions, for collecting and storing the extra social media and web browsing records needed to implement the scheme, which critics have dubbed an "online snooper's charter".
To continue reading this report in The Guardian, go to:
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/13/online-privacy-legislation-internet-phone-data
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'Online snooping' scheme will rely on voluntary help of foreign firms
Home Office security officials will rely on overseas-based social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to comply voluntarily with requests from British police and security services to collect and store personal data tracking web, email and mobile text use.
The detailed draft communications data bill published on Thursday by the home secretary, Theresa May, includes provision for civil court injunctions to be obtained against British-based internet and phone companies that fail to comply with a scheme that critics have dubbed "a snoopers' charter".
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/14/snoopers-charter-voluntary-collaboration
