40 Tory MPs attacks plans for snoopers' charter Government plans for a so-called snooper’s charter have taken a further blow after 40 Conservative MPs threatened to revolt over the plans.

40 Tory MPs attacks plans for snoopers' charter Government plans for a so-called snooper’s charter have taken a further blow after 40 Conservative MPs threatened to revolt over the plans.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9760689/40-Tory-MPs-attacks-plans-for-snoopers-charter.html


They are demanding major changes to the Communications Bill, which currently would allow the monitoring of the public’s every phone call, email and internet click.


In a letter, backbenchers also say the Bill’s scope must be limited to terrorism and the ‘most serious crimes’ if Britain is not to be turned into a nation of suspects.


Nineteen out of 40 of the MPs who signed the letter became MPs in 2010.


According to the Daily Mail, the letter says: “There has been no proper explanation of how [clauses in the Bill] concerning ‘filtering arrangements’ will work in practice.


“It is clear that they would authorise ... techniques designed to infer potentially suspicious activity from the patterns of mass data held on every innocent citizen in this country.”

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A further concern, they argue, is that the £2billion projected cost is not ‘robust’ and could spiral.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has already demanded the Government return to the ‘drawing board’.

The prospect of a rebellion by both Coalition parties means ministers may have to rely on Labour support to push through the controversial changes.

However, the Opposition has yet to say where it stands on the contentious issue.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has already demanded the Government return to the drawing board

The law would force communications providers to keep databases of phones and computer activity for a year.

Data would be accessed by a computer ‘filter’ used by police or security officials. The MPs are alarmed by the risk of the filter being misused.

Mr Raab told the Mail: “It’s one thing to target terrorists and serious criminals, another to turn us into a nation of suspects. This looks like the mother of all Whitehall IT projects. It needs to be tailored to focused law enforcement if it is going to pass muster.”