UK govt's 'Internet snooping' plans formally announced

London, May 10 (ANI): British Queen has formally announced plans to increase surveillance of the Internet by intelligence agencies and the police.

She said the government would introduce "measures to maintain the ability of the law enforcement and intelligence agencies to access vital communications data under strict safeguards to protect the public".

"The plans were subject to scrutiny of draft clauses", The Telegraph quoted the Queen, as saying.

Civil liberties groups in the UK have slammed the government's plan calling it 'snooper's charter'.

The Government did not reveal any technical details about its plans, which are designed to make it easier to discover who has contact whom, when and where, via internet services such as Facebook, Gmail and Skype.

A document released alongside the Queen's Speech, however, made it clear that internet and mobile providers will be expected to intercept and store the relevant data for 12 months.

The Bill will establish "an updated framework for the collection and retention of communications data by communication service providers", the document said. (ANI)