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Internet data plan back on political agenda Internet data plan back on political agenda
(35 minutes later)
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.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.
The Lib Dems backed the move, after calling previous attempts to give security services more powers to monitor web use a "snoopers' charter". But campaigners warned it could see the revival of the so-called "snoopers' charter" - a previous attempt to bring in wide-ranging web monitoring powers.
The new measure would help police to identify suspects via a computer's individual Internet Protocol (IP) address. The new measure, which is expected to be introduced to the Commons this week, would help police to identify suspects via a computer or mobile device's individual Internet Protocol (IP) address.
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.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.
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. 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 match individuals to internet use.
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.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.
"But I believe we need to make further changes to the law.""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''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: "It is good news that the Home Office has finally got round to producing proposals on this after being repeatedly asked by [Deputy Prime Minister] Nick Clegg. These can now be agreed and acted on in the upcoming Bill.
"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.
"There is absolutely no chance of that illiberal bill coming back under the coalition government - it's dead and buried."
The BBC's Simon Clemison said the latest announcement had again exposed the divisions between the coalition partners about privacy and security.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. Last April a coalition split saw the Communications Data Bill - labelled a snoopers' charter by critics - scrapped.
That bill would have forced companies to keep data about people's online conversations, social media activity, calls and texts for 12 months.That bill would have forced companies to keep data about people's online conversations, social media activity, calls and texts for 12 months.
But the Conservative MP and former leadership contender David Davis said the new measure was a "stepping stone back" to those proposals.
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr show there was a "simple question" for the home secretary on how police and security services would use the proposed new powers.
"Do you absolutely trust the people doing this never to make a mistake... never to misuse it?" he said.
"If you do, let the judges decide when they can do it - don't let them decide whether they can do it themselves."
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."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."