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Emergency phone and internet data retention law set to be passed Emergency phone and internet data retention law set to be passed
(35 minutes later)
An emergency law to ensure police and security services can continue to access people's phone and internet records is expected to be approved at a special cabinet meeting later.An emergency law to ensure police and security services can continue to access people's phone and internet records is expected to be approved at a special cabinet meeting later.
The Data Retention and Investigation Powers Bill is backed by all main parties and needed to fight "criminals and terrorists", David Cameron says. David Cameron says the Data Retention and Investigation Powers Bill is needed to fight "criminals and terrorists".
It comes after the European Court of Justice ruled against existing laws. But civil liberties groups say it infringes the right to privacy and sets a dangerous precedent.
The planned speed of the new law was called a "stitch up" by one Labour MP. It comes after the European Court of Justice struck down existing powers.
Tom Watson said rushing the bill through Parliament meant MPs would not get time to properly consider the plans. An EU directive requiring phone and internet companies to retain communications data - when and who their customers called, texted and emailed but not what was said - for a 12 month period was ruled unlawful in April by the European Court.
Without a new law being passed in the UK to retain the powers, Mr Cameron claims that that information could be destroyed within weeks by companies fearing legal challenges, meaning police and the security services will not be able to access it.
A special cabinet meeting is being held on Thursday to agree the planned laws, which will have a "sunset clause" meaning they will lapse in 2016.A special cabinet meeting is being held on Thursday to agree the planned laws, which will have a "sunset clause" meaning they will lapse in 2016.
Analysis
By Nick Robinson, BBC Political Editor
Critics will no doubt argue that the time for a debate about what powers will replace this law is now.
To pass any new law in just a week is rare.
So too is it to have the backing of all three main parties even before it is published.
Read more
In a statement ahead of the meeting the prime minister said: "It is the first duty of government to protect our national security and to act quickly when that security is compromised. As events in Iraq and Syria demonstrate, now is not the time to be scaling back on our ability to keep our people safe.In a statement ahead of the meeting the prime minister said: "It is the first duty of government to protect our national security and to act quickly when that security is compromised. As events in Iraq and Syria demonstrate, now is not the time to be scaling back on our ability to keep our people safe.
"The ability to access information about communications and intercept the communications of dangerous individuals is essential to fight the threat from criminals and terrorists targeting the UK."The ability to access information about communications and intercept the communications of dangerous individuals is essential to fight the threat from criminals and terrorists targeting the UK.
"No government introduces fast-track legislation lightly. But the consequences of not acting are grave."No government introduces fast-track legislation lightly. But the consequences of not acting are grave.
"I want to be very clear that we are not introducing new powers or capabilities - that is not for this Parliament. This is about restoring two vital measures ensuring that our law enforcement and intelligence agencies maintain the right tools to keep us all safe.""I want to be very clear that we are not introducing new powers or capabilities - that is not for this Parliament. This is about restoring two vital measures ensuring that our law enforcement and intelligence agencies maintain the right tools to keep us all safe."
'Snooper's charter''Snooper's charter'
Labour MP Tom Watson said rushing the bill through Parliament meant MPs would not get time to properly consider the plans and he branded it a "stitch-up".
The Open Rights Group, which campaigns for greater openness, criticised the government for using the threat of terrorism to get push through an "emergency law" that it says has no legal basis.
Executive Director Jim Killock said: "Not only will the proposed legislation infringe our right to privacy, it will also set a dangerous precedent where the government simply re-legislates every time it disagrees with a decision by the CJEU. The ruling still stands and these new plans may actually increase the amount of our personal data that is retained by ISPs, further infringing on our right to privacy.
"Blanket surveillance needs to end. That is what the court has said."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, whose Lib Dem party has blocked Conservative plans for security services to have wider access to communications powers said the emergency legislation balanced security and civil liberties.Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, whose Lib Dem party has blocked Conservative plans for security services to have wider access to communications powers said the emergency legislation balanced security and civil liberties.
He said: "We know the consequences of not acting are serious, but this urgency will not be used as an excuse for more powers, or for a 'snooper's charter'.He said: "We know the consequences of not acting are serious, but this urgency will not be used as an excuse for more powers, or for a 'snooper's charter'.
"I believe that successive governments have neglected civil liberties in the pursuit of greater security. We will be the first government in many decades to increase transparency and oversight and make significant progress in defence of liberty.""I believe that successive governments have neglected civil liberties in the pursuit of greater security. We will be the first government in many decades to increase transparency and oversight and make significant progress in defence of liberty."
Among measures which he says will "increases transparency and oversight" are: Among measures which he says will "increase transparency and oversight" are:
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said there was still bound to be opposition to the plan: "Critics will no doubt argue that the time for that debate is now. To pass any new law in just a week is rare. So too is it to have the backing of all three main parties even before it is published.
"On a subject as sensitive as giving the police and security services access to phone and internet data this is bound to be controversial."
Communications data is said by the government to have been used in 95% of all serious organised crime cases handled by the Crown Prosecution Service.Communications data is said by the government to have been used in 95% of all serious organised crime cases handled by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The data that the bill covers is the detail of when a call was made and who it was made by and to, rather than the actual content of the call.The data that the bill covers is the detail of when a call was made and who it was made by and to, rather than the actual content of the call.