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Internet data plan back on political agenda Internet data plan back on political agenda
(about 2 hours later)
A law forcing communications firms to hand details to police of who was using a computer or mobile phone at a given time is to be outlined by Theresa May. A law forcing firms to hand details to police identifying who was using a computer or mobile phone at a given time is to be outlined by Theresa May.
The home secretary said the measure would improve national security.The home secretary said the measure would improve national security.
Under the Anti Terrorism and Security Bill, providers would have to hold on to data linking devices to users.Under the Anti Terrorism and Security Bill, providers would have to hold on to data linking devices to users.
A previous attempt to give the security services more powers to monitor internet use was opposed as a "snoopers' charter" by the Lib Dems. The Lib Dems backed the move, after calling previous attempts to give security services more powers to monitor web use a "snoopers' charter".
The coalition split saw the Communications Data Bill - which would have forced companies to keep details of everyone's online activity for a year - dropped by in April 2013. The new measure would help police to identify suspects via a computer's individual Internet Protocol (IP) address.
That bill would also have extended the range of information telecommunications firms had to store, including the time, duration, location and recipients of messages sent on social media, emails and phone calls - although a warrant would be needed to view the content of messages. Each device has such an address, but they can change - such as when a modem is switched off and then on again - and are usually shared between different users.
In her party conference speech in September, Mrs May attacked her Lib Dem coalition colleagues for their stance on the bill. Internet service providers currently have no business reason for keeping data on who has used each address, the Home Office said, meaning it is not always possible for police and security services to identify who was going online at a given time.
But Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg later said that the suggestion that his party's opposition had put children's lives at risk was "absolutely appalling". Mrs May said: "The bill provides the opportunity to resolve the very real problems that exist around IP resolution and is a step in the right direction towards bridging the overall communications data capability gap.
The BBC's Simon Clemison said the latest announcement has again exposed the divisions between the coalition partners about privacy and security. "But I believe we need to make further changes to the law."
'Disproportionate proposals'
The new measures on IP addresses are to be put before the Commons on Wednesday and Mrs May said they would boost national security.
But she said the case for increased powers must continue to be made.
"The bill provides the opportunity to resolve the very real problems that exist around IP resolution and is a step in the right direction towards bridging the overall communications data capability gap. But I believe we need to make further changes to the law."
The Liberal Democrats welcomed Mrs May's measures but said the "much wider and disproportionate proposals" will not be resurfacing under the coalition government.The Liberal Democrats welcomed Mrs May's measures but said the "much wider and disproportionate proposals" will not be resurfacing under the coalition government.
'Unnecessary and unworkable'
A spokesman said: "The Liberal Democrats are in favour of action on IP address matching and have been since it was recommended by the joint committee that did the pre-legislative scrutiny on the Communications Data Bill. The committee said the proposals were the only part of that Bill that did not reduce civil liberties.A spokesman said: "The Liberal Democrats are in favour of action on IP address matching and have been since it was recommended by the joint committee that did the pre-legislative scrutiny on the Communications Data Bill. The committee said the proposals were the only part of that Bill that did not reduce civil liberties.
"This is exactly the kind of thing that we need to take action on, rather than proposing an unnecessary, unworkable and disproportionate snooper's charter.""This is exactly the kind of thing that we need to take action on, rather than proposing an unnecessary, unworkable and disproportionate snooper's charter."
The BBC's Simon Clemison said the latest announcement had again exposed the divisions between the coalition partners about privacy and security.
Last April a coalition split saw the Communications Data Bill scrapped.
That bill would have forced companies to keep data about people's online conversations, social media activity, calls and texts for 12 months.
Emma Carr, from privacy campaigners Big Brother Watch, said: "Before setting her sights on reviving the snooper's charter, the home secretary should address the fact that one of the biggest challenges facing the police is making use of the huge volume of data that is already available, including data from social media and internet companies."