The government is considering tracking and retaining data on
social networking sites as part of a move to tackle internet
crime.
Minister Vernon Coaker said the government is considering
retaining data from sites like Facebook, MySpace and Beebo.
He told a
Commons committee the government is considering intercept
modernisation programme proposals, "which may include requiring the
retention of data on Facebook, bebo, MySpace and all other similar
sites".
The minister said the aim would be to track criminals, such as
paedophiles who use social networking sites to look for potential
victims
He said similar regulations on communications data from telecoms
companies had helped to solve crimes.
"I accept that this is an extremely difficult area. The
interface between retaining data, private security and all such
issues of privacy is extremely important.
"The regulations relating to telephony have already been used to
place murderers at the scenes of their crimes, to prevent murders
and kidnaps from taking place and to identify serious sexual
offenders who would not otherwise have been caught as quickly.
Internet-related communications data are just as vital."
He said no decisions had been made on whether to track and store
internet traffic data, and that a consultation would take
place.
The proposals are contained in the Intercept Modernisation
Programme, which was introduced last year and is looking at whether
the monitoring of internet traffic data could be used as an
anti-terrorism tool.