BBC News Online: 'Snoop' plans put on hold

[Owen Blacker]

To me, this reads like we might have won.  For now...  :o)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_2051000/2051117.stm

Tuesday, 18 June, 2002, 10:37 GMT 11:37 UK 
'Snoop' plans put on hold

Controversial plans to give a raft of public bodies access to e-mail and
mobile phone records are to be postponed indefinitely, the BBC
understands.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is thought to have ordered a re-think of
the new surveillance laws following opposition from MPs on all sides and a
threat by Conservative peers to block the proposals in the House of
Lords. 

The postponement went further than expected - Mr Blunkett had been
tipped to limit access to private e-mail and phone records to council chief
executives and senior staff. 

Home Office sources say the extension of the powers to seven new
Whitehall departments, as well as local authorities and other public bodies
will now not be discussed in the Commons before the next session of
Parliament which starts in November. 

Taken aback 

Civil liberties campaigners had joined MPs from all parties in voicing
disquiet at the plans, which they claim is a "snooper's charter". 

At the moment, the power to examine private phone records is only
available to the police, inland revenue and customs and excise. 

The powers - contained in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
(RIPA) - were introduced to combat serious crime and terrorism. 

But the government wanted to extend access to a wide range of
organisations including local councils and bodies such as the Food Standards
Agency. 

Ministers are reported to have been taken aback by the scale of
opposition to the proposals. 

Full debate 

They had been due to be debated for just 90 minutes on Tuesday by a
committee of MPs dealing with secondary legislation. 

But the plug was pulled on the debate at the last minute following an
outcry from MPs. 

There had then been expected to be a debate in the full chamber of the
Commons. 

Live interception 

The government had cited the investigation of benefit fraud rings and
pirate radio stations as two examples where the new powers would be used. 

A Home Office spokesman told BBC News Online on Monday there was room
for debate on the legislation and it was not a "fait accompli". 

Meanwhile, a committee of MPs is due to debate the interception of live
telephone and internet communications later on Tuesday, which is also
contained in the RIPA act. 

Communication service providers have agreed to work with the security
services to provide access to electronic communications.


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