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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 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. As part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, providers would have to retain data linking devices to users.
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.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.
Cyber-bullies and terror suspects Who is it targeting?
The Home Office says the new measures would help police and security services identify:The Home Office says the new measures would help police and security services identify:
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. The proposals, due to come before MPs on Wednesday, 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 holding data showing which IP address was allocated to a device at a given time, meaning it is not always possible for police and security services to match individuals to internet use, the Home Office said.Internet service providers currently have no business reason for holding data showing which IP address was allocated to a device at a given time, meaning it is not always possible for police and security services to match individuals to internet use, the Home Office said.
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Mrs May said the new bill would help security services "deal with the increased threat that we now see".Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Mrs May said the new bill would help security services "deal with the increased threat that we now see".
"This is a step but it doesn't go all the way to ensuring that we can identify all the people we will need to," she said."This is a step but it doesn't go all the way to ensuring that we can identify all the people we will need to," she said.
To "fully identify" everybody, she said police would need the power to access communication data, as previously proposed in the Communication Data Bill.To "fully identify" everybody, she said police would need the power to access communication data, as previously proposed in the Communication Data Bill.
That bill - labelled a snooper's charter by critics - was scrapped following Lib Dem opposition.That bill - labelled a snooper's charter by critics - was scrapped following Lib Dem opposition.
It would would have forced companies to keep data about people's online conversations, social media activity, calls and texts for 12 months. It would have forced companies to keep data about people's online conversations, social media activity, calls and texts for 12 months.
Mrs May added: "It will still be the case, even with these IP addresses being within the legislation that the National Crime Agency... will still not be able to identify everybody who is accessing illegal content on the internet." James Massey, chairman of the Internet Service Providers Association, said the plans could cost the industry "tens if not hundreds of millions" and would not catch paedophiles or those planning terror attacks.
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. "The devil will be in the detail but it's going to be difficult no matter how they do it," he said.
"It looks like it could catch people who post annoying things on Twitter or not very nice things on social media - but not those who know how to hide their online activities.
"It's not a sensible thing to have decided to do without consulting us first."
'Unworkable and disproportionate''Unworkable and disproportionate'
The Liberal Democrats welcomed Mrs May's announcement but ruled out agreeing to the "much wider and disproportionate proposals" previously mooted.The Liberal Democrats welcomed Mrs May's announcement but ruled out agreeing to the "much wider and disproportionate proposals" previously mooted.
"This is exactly the kind of thing that we need to take action on, rather than proposing an unnecessary, unworkable and disproportionate snoopers' charter. MP Julian Huppert said: "The real question is why the home secretary has dragged her feet on this technical measure that would have actually saved lives... while still trying to push ahead with much larger and much more intrusive measures that have much less benefit in keeping us safe."
"There is absolutely no chance of that illiberal bill coming back under the coalition government - it's dead and buried." A spokesman added: "There is absolutely no chance of that illiberal bill coming back under the coalition government - it's dead and buried."
But Conservative backbencher David Davis said the new measure was a "stepping stone back" to those proposals that would cause Mrs May "real trouble". But Conservative MP and one-time leadership hopeful David Davis said the new measure was a "stepping stone back" to those proposals.
The former Tory leadership contender told Andrew Marr there was a "simple question" for the home secretary on how police and security services would use the proposed new powers. He told Andrew Marr: "This technical change is okay, it's sensible, but the home secretary has said in effect that she sees it as a route back into the whole snooper's charter and, frankly, I think she's going to have real trouble."
"Do you absolutely trust the people doing this never to make a mistake... never to misuse it?" he said. Meanwhile Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said internet service providers should do more to tackle extremism online.
"If you do, let the judges decide when they can do it - don't let them decide whether they can do it themselves." "We can't expect the government to sit there and be monitoring this all the time," he told BBC News. "The best people to do this are the providers themselves."
'Blanket surveillance'
Asked if the proposals were a "step in the right direction", Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "I believe so."Asked if the proposals were a "step in the right direction", Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "I believe so."
But he added: "My job is to help keep people safe. To get that balance between security and privacy is Parliament's job. But he added: "My job is to help keep people safe. To get that balance between security and privacy is Parliament's job."
"All I can do is make the case for why we need to maintain security." Labour said giving police powers to access IP addresses should be accompanied by "appropriate oversight providing sufficient checks and balances".
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." Shami Chakrabarti, director of campaign group Liberty, said: "There's no problem with the targeted investigation of terrorist suspects, including where it requires linking apparently anonymous communications to a particular person.
"But every government proposal of the last so many years has been about blanket surveillance of the entire population... So, forgive us if we look for the devil in the detail of this new bill."