Five years ago: Government attacked over internet interception

29.06.1999: Free-speech organisation Internet Freedom has attacked the UK government's proposals to intercept internet communications.

The consultation paper, unveiled last week by Home Secretary, Jack Straw, outlines plans to make internet service providers responsible for ensuring all electronic communications are available for police scrutiny.

According to a statement on the Internet Freedom website, the proposals represent "a substantial attack on the liberties of internet users".

29.06.2004: As the internet and email have become standard fixtures in most people's lives, so has the government's interest in keeping an eye on what we do and who we do it with online.

Last year saw the passing of the so-called Snooper's Charter, meaning ISPs are now bound to track every email sent and web page visited.

The Antipodean authorities also pulled off a similar manoeuvre allowing the police to get access to stored voicemails, texts and emails without a special warrant.

More recently, however, it's been private companies rather than politicians that have drawnraised eyebrows from privacy campaigners. Google's experimental Gmail service has even attracted criticism in the US Senate after fears surfaced that the email service's technique of scanning users' inboxes to create targeted advertising could be a violation of their citizens' privacy.