Jennifer Scott reports:
The government has confirmed plans that will see all phone calls, text messages, emails and visits to websites by members of the public held in a database for one year, but not until after the general election.
Dubbed as a “Big Brother” or snooping scheme by critics, the Intercept Modernisation Programme will force telecoms companies and ISPs to keep records of their customers’ communications, which will then be accessible by 653 public bodies – including the police, fire services and the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
To access information the authorities will not have to go through the courts but instead just seek the approval of a senior police officer or high ranking member of a local authority.
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