Whitehall softens its snooping proposals

The government has scaled down its plans for collecting internet and email data, and cut the number of agencies allowed to access confidential information.

The Home Office has launched a consultation paper, which sets out the government's view of what information communication companies are required to hold to aid law enforcement, and for how long.

Under the latest proposals, mobile operators and internet service providers will be required to store information about users for up to 12 months. Details of who sent and received emails will need to be kept for six months.

Original government proposals published last year were scrapped after criticism that they were too far-reaching.

A separate consultation will decide the number of government agencies allowed access to traffic data.

Previously the government wanted to give access to over 100 agencies, but this is likely to drop to five.

'It is a question of getting the balance right between powers and our cherished privacy,' said Bob Ainsworth, Home Office Minister.

Interest groups have until 3 June 2003 to respond to the proposals.

If industry cannot agree on a voluntary code, the government has the power to introduce a mandatory scheme.