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Surveillance plans see council data access curbed May setting out plans to monitor internet use in the UK
(about 1 hour later)
  
Councils will be not be able to get access to details of emails, phone calls and internet use under new data surveillance plans to be unveiled. Details of internet use in the UK will have to be stored for a year to allow police and intelligence services to access it, under government plans.
Police and security services will get new powers to track suspects through emails and websites, Home Secretary Theresa May will say on Thursday. Records will include people's activity on social network sites, webmail, internet phone calls and online gaming.
But such information will not be available to councils. Existing powers will also be curbed, Mrs May is to add. Home Secretary Theresa May said the change was needed to keep up with how criminals are using new technology.
Civil liberties campaigners said it was an attempt to "buy off critics". But senior Tory David Davis called it "incredibly intrusive" and would only "catch the innocent and incompetent".
The government's Communications Bill, to be published in draft form on Thursday, has already sparked controversy and led to tension within the coalition government.The government's Communications Bill, to be published in draft form on Thursday, has already sparked controversy and led to tension within the coalition government.
As part of moves to win over critics it is believed councils will be not be able to get access to the details stored under the new plans.
Ministers say laws on internet surveillance must keep pace with technological developments and enable the police to keep track of web-based communications of terrorist suspects and serious criminals.Ministers say laws on internet surveillance must keep pace with technological developments and enable the police to keep track of web-based communications of terrorist suspects and serious criminals.
But critics say it represents an unjustifiable intrusion of state power and will not be effective in bringing potential offenders to justice.But critics say it represents an unjustifiable intrusion of state power and will not be effective in bringing potential offenders to justice.
As now, police will not be able to monitor the content of phone calls and emails without a warrant from a judge, instead only being able to find out when calls are made, where and by whom.As now, police will not be able to monitor the content of phone calls and emails without a warrant from a judge, instead only being able to find out when calls are made, where and by whom.
'Vital tool'
But, for the first time, the laws will cover social media and internet-based telephony.But, for the first time, the laws will cover social media and internet-based telephony.
Firms that provide communications and internet services will be required to store more data about their subscribers than they do at present and retain it for a year - to be paid for by government.Firms that provide communications and internet services will be required to store more data about their subscribers than they do at present and retain it for a year - to be paid for by government.
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said ministers argue that technological advances mean that a quarter of the records needed by the police are not available and that safeguards against misuse will be strengthened.The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said ministers argue that technological advances mean that a quarter of the records needed by the police are not available and that safeguards against misuse will be strengthened.
But the government faces a battle to get the proposals through Parliament intact with Lib Dem MPs and some Conservatives calling for the plans to be either watered down or abandoned altogether.But the government faces a battle to get the proposals through Parliament intact with Lib Dem MPs and some Conservatives calling for the plans to be either watered down or abandoned altogether.
The proposals will be subject to scrutiny by a joint parliamentary committee before the legislative process begins in earnest.The proposals will be subject to scrutiny by a joint parliamentary committee before the legislative process begins in earnest.
Mrs May is expected to say: "Communications data is vital for the police in their fight against crime, including serious offences such as child abuse, drug dealing and terrorism.Mrs May is expected to say: "Communications data is vital for the police in their fight against crime, including serious offences such as child abuse, drug dealing and terrorism.
"These measures are necessary to protect the public and investigate crime - and that is the only reason for which they should be used.""These measures are necessary to protect the public and investigate crime - and that is the only reason for which they should be used."
The home secretary is expected to confirm that public bodies will have to apply for the new powers at a later date while councils will be stripped of their current powers to access information on phone calls.The home secretary is expected to confirm that public bodies will have to apply for the new powers at a later date while councils will be stripped of their current powers to access information on phone calls.
"I think it is right that we look again and ask whether local authorities really need access to communications data.""I think it is right that we look again and ask whether local authorities really need access to communications data."
'Not credible''Not credible'
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge, head of data communications at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said the current lack of access to details of internet communications was hampering investigations.Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge, head of data communications at the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said the current lack of access to details of internet communications was hampering investigations.
"There is a growing gap in our ability to maintain current capability," he said. "The increase in web-based forms of communication is growing at an exponential rate.""There is a growing gap in our ability to maintain current capability," he said. "The increase in web-based forms of communication is growing at an exponential rate."
But Nick Pickles, director of the civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch, said further complicating existing laws would reduce accountability and increase risks of abuse.But Nick Pickles, director of the civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch, said further complicating existing laws would reduce accountability and increase risks of abuse.
"To rush out an announcement about local councils is neither a serious review nor a credible effort to protect civil liberties," he said."To rush out an announcement about local councils is neither a serious review nor a credible effort to protect civil liberties," he said.
"It is a desperate attempt to buy off critics that says a great deal about how little support the Home Office believes there is for this policy.""It is a desperate attempt to buy off critics that says a great deal about how little support the Home Office believes there is for this policy."