Lord West calls for crackdown on ISPs snooping on emails

Ex-cyber minister says ISPs are finding it too easy to ignore the rules

Ex-cyber minister Lord West has called on the government to crack down on ISPs using software to scan emails and as a result target adverts to specific users.

The former Labour minister said it is too easy for ISPs to bypass the rules, where they are meant to ask permission first, according to the BBC.

"This is something I think is important for the nation. Giving private companies the right to go and look into people's emails is something I find rather unhealthy," said Lord West.

"But these companies want the right to go into people's emails and look for keywords without anyone's permission."

Deep packet inspection software is used by some ISPs to scan emails for keywords and also track web use, so as to target adverts to users.

The Home Office said it is an offence to intercept communications without lawful authority, but the Open Rights Group has pointed out that not enough is being done.

"It is clear the police will ignore all but the most blatant abuses, and very few if any problems will ever get to court," said Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group.

"A regulator is meant to issue advice, consult with industry and make sure rules are being observed, not wait until the worst abuses bring furious citizens knocking on their door."