Theresa May sets out plans to monitor internet use in the UK

From BBC:

Details of internet use in the UK will have to be stored for a year to allow police and intelligence services to have access it, under government plans.

Records will include people’s activity on social network sites, webmail, internet phone calls and online gaming.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the change was needed to keep up with how criminals were using new technology.

But senior Tory David Davis said it was “incredibly intrusive” and would only “catch the innocent and incompetent”.

The Communications Data Bill has been published in draft form – but the government faces a battle to get it through Parliament intact, with Lib Dem MPs and Conservatives such as Mr Davis calling for it to be watered down or abandoned altogether.

Read more on BBC.

The proposal has understandably evoked strong responses. There are over 1,000 comments on the BBC article alone.  As for the ICO, here’s their statement:

“Ultimately, it is for Parliament to determine whether or not the proposals contained in the draft Bill are a proportionate response to the perceived problem of communications data capability.

“The Information Commissioner will contribute to the Joint Committee’s consideration of the draft Bill and, in particular, the adequacy of the proposed safeguards and limitations.

“If the Information Commissioner is to be in a position to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act, in respect of security of retained personal information and its destruction after 12 months, the ICO will need appropriately enhanced powers and the necessary additional resources.”