New email law provokes complaints

New security rules, which will mean that internet service providers have to keep details of all emails sent in the UK, are being hailed as a waste of cash and will probably clash with civil liberty rules too.

Currently ISPs keep copies of emails on a voluntary basis but these changes, which take place in March, will not only mean that all ISPs have to store this data, but they will also be paid for their time.

This cost is estimated to be anything between £25 million and £70 million.

Although the move is understandable for national security matters, six hundred different public bodies will be able to request access to this data, including local councils.

The ISPs will keep a record of all emails sent within the UK, including who sent the email, where it went and the date.

The data will be stored for a year.

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