NO2ID

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/n ... -laws.html

Lib Dems fear Government will stifle debate over online 'snooping' laws

By Christopher Williams, Technology Correspondent

3:00PM BST 30 Apr 2012

Senior Liberal Democrats fear the Government could force online “snooping” laws through Parliament by including them in widely-supported reforms of the fight against organised crime.

Measures to dramatically increase surveillance of the internet are due to be included in the Queen’s Speech next month. Opponents believe the Government may attempt to stifle backbench dissent by incorporating them into the Bill to set up the new National Crime Agency.

Tom Brake, chairman of the Liberal Democrat backbench home affairs committee, warned against the move.

“There are only a certain number of slots for new laws but we need this to be something that is debatable and improvable on its own terms,” he said, “not part of something that has broad support like the National Crime Agency”.

“The laws in this area are already too weak to protect individual privacy, and they need to be strengthened.”

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