Safeguards sought as online monitoring planned

Information Commissioner Christopher Graham wants assurances about plans that will mean internet companies are instructed to install hardware tracking telephone and website traffic.

The legislation, expected in next month’s Queen’s Speech, will enable GCHQ to access information “on demand” in “real time” without a warrant.

A spokesman for the Information Commissioner’s Office said: “The Information Commissioner’s role in this Home Office project, both under this government and the last, has been to press for the necessary limitations and safeguards.

“We will continue to seek assurances, including the implementation of the results of a thorough Privacy Impact Assessment.”

Downing Street insisted only data – times, dates, numbers and addresses – not content would be accessible as it sought to quell fears about the proposals amid a fierce backlash from its own backbenchers as well as civil liberties groups.

David Davis, Conservative former shadow home secretary, said: “This is not necessary. You can do it under control of the law. What is proposed is completely unfettered access to every single communication you make.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg defended the plans, insisting he was “totally opposed” to the idea of governments reading people’s emails at will.

He added: “All we are doing is updating the rules which currently apply to mobile telephone calls to allow the police and security services to go after terrorists and serious criminals and updating that to apply to technology like Skype.”

Security Minister James Brokenshire said the emphasis was on solving crime rather than “real-time snooping on everybody’s emails”.