Communications Data Bill 2008

The Communications Data Bill includes plans in the United Kingdom to collect data on people's phone, e-mail and web-browsing habits for mass surveillance. The government database would include telephone numbers dialed, the websites visited and addresses to which e-mails are sent but not the text of e-mails or recorded telephone conversations. Since October 2007 telecommunication companies have been required to keep records of phone calls and text messages for twelve months. The bill would extend the coverage to Internet website visited, email messages, and VOIP data. Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat Home affairs spokesman said: "The government's Orwellian plans for a vast database of our private communications are deeply worrying."