Legislation to access texts and e-mails on hold

London: Plans for a £2-billion (Dh12 billion) Home Office surveillance project to track details of everyone's e-mail, mobile phone, text and internet use have been put on hold after a consultation raised concerns over its technical feasibility, costs and privacy safeguards.

The Home Office has confirmed that legislation for the project, known in Whitehall as the "interception modernisation programme (IMP)," will not be included in next week's Queen's Speech and is unlikely before a general election. The fresh delay follows concerns raised by internet service providers and mobile phone operators over the project's feasibility, and anxieties over who would foot the bill.

Half of the 221 respondents to the Home Office consultation held over the summer voiced concerns about proposed privacy safeguards and the potential for abuse.

Further delays in the IMP will frustrate security chiefs who argue it is vital to investigate terrorism and serious crimes. Critics say it amounts to a major extension of surveillance powers.