The decision by the government to keep a national database of all phone calls, texts and emails has been spoken out against by Privacy International (PI).

Alleged Ggovernment contradictions were picked up on by the organisation, with standards previously highlighting the principles of data minimisation yet now changing to introduce a surveillance system of "unprecedented scale".

PI’s representative said that the proposed system was distinctly Orwellian and reflected intentions made by the Bush administration in the US, "stretching the limits" of reason.

"Governments should only collect what is absolutely necessary and even then, the data should be kept to a minimum, and its processing limited as well," the spokesman continued.

However, home secretary Jacqui Smith said that changes were necessary as Britain face "severe" threats which had differed in character from previous fears, adding that additions may require changes in legislation and safeguards necessary to protecting citizens would certainly need them.

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