Monitoring law ‘won’t be a snooper’s charter’ says Cameron

DAVID Cameron has denied plans to monitor calls, e-mails, texts and website visits would be a “snooper’s charter”.

The Prime Minister insisted the moves were needed to keep up with new technology and were vital in the effort to tackle serious crime and terrorism.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the proposals would be published in draft form for consultation and include the “highest possible safeguards”.

The coalition has faced a backlash from Tory and Liberal Democrat backbenchers concerned at the erosion of civil liberties.

Both parties had previously condemned Labour plans to establish a surveillance database.

Asked why the Tories appeared to have changed their position on GCHQ – the government communications HQ, part of the intelligence services – accessing information, Mr Cameron said: “Let’s be absolutely clear, this is not what the last government proposed and we opposed. And let’s be clear, this is not about extending the reach of the state into people’s data, it’s about trying to keep up with modern technology.

“But we should remember that this sort of data, used at the moment, through the proper processes, is absolutely vital in stopping serious crime and some of the most serious terrorist incidents that could kill people in our country, so it’s essential we get this right.

“Yes to keeping up with modern technology. No to a snoopers’ charter.”

Mr Cameron, speaking during a visit to south London, said: “This is not about giving the state access to the content of people’s e-mails or telephone conversations, that requires a warrant and all the proper processes have to be gone through.

“An awful lot of misinformation, frankly, has been put about what’s being proposed.”

Home Secretary Theresa May will face questions about the plans when she appears in front of the Home Affairs Select Committee on 24 April. Writing in a newspaper yesterday, she said the proposed law change, which will mean internet companies are instructed to install hardware tracking telephone and website traffic, would help police stay one step ahead of criminals.

She added: “We cannot afford to lose this vital law enforcement tool. But currently online communication by criminals can’t always be tracked. That’s why the government is proposing to help the police stay one step ahead of the criminals.

“There are no plans for any big government database. No-one is going to be looking through ordinary people’s e-mails or Facebook posts. Only suspected terrorists, paedophiles or serious criminals will be investigated.”

But Labour leader Ed Miliband said the coalition had “spectacularly mishandled” the issue. He said: “It is unclear what they are proposing.

“It is unclear what it means for people. It is always going to lead to fears about general browsing of people’s e-mails unless they are clear about their proposals, clear about what they would mean, clear about how they are changing the law.”