Internet firms warn UK’s plan to record citizens’ online activities will endanger national security

London - British Government’s plan to record every Briton’s online activity and mobile phone use could put national security at risk and may not even be technically workable, Internet companies have warned parliamentarians.
 
The London Internet Exchange (Linx), which represents service providers, said the Government’s controversial surveillance proposals represent a ‘dramatic shift’ in the balance between individuals’ privacy and the power of the state.

According to the Telegraph, it said forcing them to keep details of all website visits and mobile phone calls would also affect the relationship of trust they share with customers.

The firm said that if this ‘profiling engine’ was ever hacked into, ‘it would constitute a significant threat to national security’.

Linx, however, said its members had ‘significant doubts’ about the feasibility of building the system.

The firm’s written evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Communications Data Bill is its first detailed intervention and suggests the plans could be jeopardised if the Internet industry refuses to take part, the report said.

“We don't think the Government should be given unlimited powers to set monitoring obligations for ISPs simply because they don't want public debate about the proportionality of what they wish us to do,” Malcolm Hutty, a spokesman for the trade body, said.

According to the report, under the plans, ISPs would be required to store details of all customers’ web visits, email access and mobile phone usage for a year.

The data would include the times of calls and messages and the user’s location, but not their content, the report said.

Ministers insist the proposals, dubbed a “snooper’s charter”, are necessary because of the sophistication of modern criminals and will help thwart child abuse gangs, terrorism and kidnappers, it added.