Daily Mail 6 October 2008
Every person in Britain could have their internet history, email records and telephone calls tracked under a proposed £12billion plan by ministers.
The system - dubbed 'sinister' by the Tories - would see hundreds of hidden devices planted to tap into communications on the internet and via mobile phone providers.
And a national database would be created to store the information which officials say would help in the fight against terrorism and organised crime.
£1billion has already been allocated to the Government's central intelligence agency GCHQ to finance the first stage of the controversial project.
The big brother scheme is set to attract fierce opposition from human rights groups.
Dominic Grieve, the shadow home secretary, said: "Any suggestion of the Government using existing powers to intercept communications data without public discussion is going to sound extremely sinister."
Around 57 billion text messages were sent in the UK last year while the number of broadband internet connections has grown to 18 million.
Each day three billion e-mails are sent raising fears about the security of such a big database.
MI5 currently conducts limited e-mail and website surveillance, but still requires permission from the Home Secretary on a case-by-case basis to carry out the checks.
If the new proposals are implemented, the intercepts would be comprehensive and automatic.
The Home Office said no formal decision had been taken and said it "did not recognise" the £12bn price tag being put on the system in some quarters.
But sources said officials had made clear that ministers had agreed "in principle" to the programme.
More details of the plan are expected to be revealed in the Queen's Speech next month.
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