Customer web history will  be kept on file for one year

The Conservative Party can now implement policies, unpopular with civil rights groups, such as the Draft Communications Data Bill, previously rejected by the coalition.  The Bill will force internet service providers and mobile networks to retain customer data for at least 12 months.  This would include records on browsing activity, social media, email, voice calls, internet gaming and messaging services.

Following the Queens speech on 27^th May 2015 the Investigatory Powers Bill  will be as follows;

“New legislation will modernise the law on communications data.” The purpose of this legislation is to:

• Provide the police and intelligence agencies with the tools to keep you and your family safe.

• Address ongoing capability gaps that are severely degrading the ability of law enforcement and intelligence agencies ability to combat terrorism and other serious crime.

• Maintain the ability of our intelligence agencies and law enforcement to target the on-line communications of terrorists, paedophiles and other serious criminals.

• Modernise our law in these areas and ensure it is fit for purpose.

• Provide for appropriate oversight and safeguard arrangements. The main benefits of these clauses would be:

• Better equipping law enforcement and intelligence agencies to meet their key operational requirements, and addressing the gap in these agencies’ ability to build intelligence and evidence where subjects of interest, suspects and vulnerable people have communicated on-line.

• Maintain the ability of our intelligence agencies to target the on-line communications of terrorists, and other relevant capabilities.

• Provide for appropriate oversight arrangements and safeguards.

• This will respond to issues raised in the independent review by the Independent Reviewer of Counter-Terrorism legislation, which is due to be published shortly. The main elements of the clauses are:

• The legislation covers all investigatory powers including communications data, where the Government has long maintained that the gap in capabilities are putting lives at risk. 27 May 2015 

• The legislation will enable the continuation of the targeting of terrorist communications and other capabilities.