UK Intelligence Set for Internet and Phone Monitoring

The British government is set to unveil a new law that will allow it to monitor all phone calls, emails, text messages and internet use in the country to help tackle crime and militant attacks, the British Interior Ministry said. "It is vital that police and security services are able to obtain communications data in certain circumstances to investigate serious crime and terrorism and to protect the public," a Home Office spokesman said. The proposed law already has drawn strong criticism, from within the ruling Conservative Party's own ranks, as an invasion of privacy and personal rights. 

The new legislation is expected to be announced in the legislative agenda-setting speech given by the queen in May.
Currently, British agencies can monitor calls and e-mails of specific individuals who may be under investigation after obtaining ministerial approval, but expanding that to all citizens is certain to enrage civil liberties campaigners.
Under the new law, the internet firms will be required to give the intelligence agency, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), access to communications on demand.
It will allow officers to monitor who is calling who, and for how long, or what websites they are visiting. The legislation also covers social networking sites.
Source: BNA