Government to Record all Phone Calls and Emails?

Proposals for a national database holding details of all mobile and landline phone calls and emails sent in the UK is to be considered by the government, the Times reports.

The electronic information would be stored in order to better tackle crime and protect national security, the Home Office told the newspaper. However, the plans seem set to meet with resistance from civil liberties groups.

According to the report, the proposals might be included in the draft Communications Bill, which goes before Parliament later in the year. Should they go ahead, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000) will need to be modified, the Home Office spokesman also confirmed.

He added: "The Communications Data Bill will help ensure that crucial capabilities in the use of communications data for counter-terrorism and investigation of crime continue to be available. These powers will continue to be subject to strict safeguards to ensure the right balance between privacy and protecting the public."

However, Jonathan Bamford at civil liberties group the Information Commission told the BBC that the proposals as a "step too far", and highlighted the possibility for harm if details of the database were lost.

"Defeating crime and terrorism is of the utmost importance, but we are not aware of any pressing need to justify the government itself holding this sort of data," he commented.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne also said that the database plans were "Orwellian".