By Robert Verkaik, Mail On Sunday Security Editor
PUBLISHED: 22:09, 7 April 2012 | UPDATED: 10:31, 8 April 2012
Local authorities will soon be able to spy on anyone they suspect of infringing council rules
Local authorities will be able to use the Government's controversial 'snoopers' charter' to spy on anyone they suspect of infringing minor council rules.
Facebook, Google and other internet companies will be forced to store all emails, social messaging and website visits made in Britain under plans being drawn up by Ministers.
But civil liberty groups warn that councils will try to take advantage of the law to trawl the new databases to snoop on residents and workers for trivial reasons.
Ministers say the issue has been driven by the security services and police to combat terrorism and serious crime. However, critics say that 800 councils and other public bodies will also have access to personal material.
They warn that councils that wish to spy on a resident can authorise searches under the powerful Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).
Local authorities have already been criticised for overreaching their powers by accessing CCTV material to snoop on people suspected of putting bins out early, littering and breaking school catchment area rules.
In several cases, innocent people were targeted under the Act, including a family who were spied on for two weeks by Poole Borough Council in Dorset.
Plans: Internet giants Facebook and Google will be forced to store all emails, website visits and social messaging
It wrongly suspected them of cheating to get their daughter into a particular school.
Civil rights group Privacy International warned: 'The RIPA regulatory regime is remarkably weak.
This proposal will require that Google, Facebook and other providers grant Government agencies, including councils, access to data.'
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the plans would be subject to a public consultation
A council chief could order Facebook or Google to hand over messages or web searches that they suspect will help prove an employee is pretending to be off work sick.
Under existing UK law, internet service providers and telecoms companies have a duty to comply with requests for information from Government agencies, including local authorities.
Once the databases have been created, councils will be able to ask Google and Facebook to hand over private information.
In two years, 8,575 surveillance operations were conducted by 372 local councils in England, Scotland and Wales.
But the Home Office insists there will be only limited access by local authorities and that no agencies will be able to see the content of the emails, texts and internet visits.
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the plans would be subject to a public consultation.
Internet giants including Google are expected to pocket the lion's share of the £2 billion of taxpayers cash to fund the controversial plan.
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said the proposals would include plans to ensure councils sought permission from a magistrate before they could access the databases.
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