SOCIAL NETWORKING WEBSITES AND GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE

Early day motion 1191, tabled 25 March 2009 by Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 44 members.

That this House notes with concern the Home Office's consideration of a government database for monitoring activities of law-abiding citizens on social network websites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace; highlights that these sites contain sensitive data on individuals which the Government has no right to know; further notes recent failures by Government Departments to keep confidential data secure; further notes that police can monitor social networking accounts of those suspected of criminality, under existing warrant procedures; and urges the Government to drop any plans for blanket monitoring of all users on social networking websites.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 35, Labour 4, Conservative 2, Independent 2, Scottish National Party 1.