British government wants to track Internet users

According to two stories in The Guardian newspaper, http://www.guardian.co.uk/, during the last year, "Local councils, health authorities and hundreds of other public bodies are to be given the power to access details of everyone's personal text, emails and internet use under (United Kingdom) Home Office proposals." The government is looking at requiring communication companies to retain such personal data for up to 12 months so that it can be used for criminal investigations or other public safety threats. In addition, since the policy is based on a European Union directive, the data would be made available to public investigating agencies throughout Europe.

The idea was originally proposed after the 2005 London bombings and justified that it was vital to the fight against terrorism. However, now its potential use would be expanded for all types of "crime and public order" investigations. This would mean that the details of personal internet and text, but not the content, would be made available "to protect the public". Only recently, the Home Office abandoned the idea of a central "super-database" run by the state. Many in the country are concerned that it will be used to snoop on ordinary people in everyday situations.