The government has announced that emergency measures will be brought in to force internet and telephone companies to record customer data.

In a controversial move, parliament has declared the new law necessary so that the security services can gain access to any data they may need.

It will force telecoms companies to retain their customer data for 12 months and allows access to any content within it by an intelligence agent if the order is signed off by a government official.

The planned laws will be in effect until 2016 and have the full backing of prime minister David Cameron and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. Both deem the legislation necessary to keep the country safe, it is heard.

A recent ruling from the European Court of Justice removed the obligation from telecoms firms to keep records of when and to whom their customers have made calls, texts or emails.

Cameron and Clegg claim that unless the UK brings in reactionary legislation, companies will be able to destroy information that could see them prosecuted.

Some may argue, however, that the government is trying to halt the surge of privacy rights that has swept across the EU in the wake of Google's "right to be forgotten" ruling.