Read it and weep, literally. Not only do they take one’s privacy, but the get to pay for it with their taxes too. Who’s next I wonder.
A European Union directive, which Britain was instrumental in devising, comes into force which will require all internet service providers to retain information on email traffic, visits to web sites and telephone calls made over the internet, for 12 months.
Police and the security services will be able to access the information to combat crime and terrorism.
Another EU directive which requires companies to hold details of telephone records for a year has already come into force, and although internet data is held on an ad hoc basis this is the first time the industry has faced a statutory requirement to archive the material.
Information held includes the details of who contacted who, and when, but does not involve the content of emails being stored.
The taxpayer will reimburse internet service providers and telecoms companies for the costs associated with storing the billions of individual records.