John Wadham, director of Liberty:

"The original snooper's charter proposals were appallingly excessive: we welcome much of the Government plan to step back from them. But authorities accessing this data should need a warrant from a judge - that's the only truly independent safeguard that can produce public confidence.

"The Government mentions (but derides) the possibility judicial scutiny. As we read the paper, the Interception of Communications Commissioner will only be offering 'oversight' - ie occasional scrutiny after the event - while in practice data will be demanded by individuals who have been 'certified' and periodically have that certification reviewed to check they haven't been misusing it. This leads back into familiar territory for the Interception of Communications Commissioner (whose annual reports routinely list the numbers of wiretaps placed on the wrong people, rather than almost placed until picked up by judicial check ... ) and for the Chief Surveillance Commissoner (who has had to highlight the lacks of resources available for him realistically to oversee 950 public authorities ).

"The (ATCSA) consultation paper also demonstrates the vast array of information that the government wants to force telecoms companies to keep.
Millions of people will have this information stored about them 'just in case' the police at some stage are interested in one individual.

"It remains a little unclear why, for example, NHS Trusts need access to this information - surely the health service should be concentrating all its resources on providing healthcare, with police investigating crime.

"Overall, however, today's proposals - and the fact the Government is seeking to consult on them - are a welcome improvement on the original snooper's charter plan".