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Civil liberties groups in Britain are condemning a controversial new law
designed to extend telephone-tapping powers to cover electronic communications.
Due to be passed by Parliament this week, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers
(RIP) Bill will allow the GCHQ eavesdropping centre to spy on domestic as well
as international communications, the critics say. Britain will be the only G7
country with such powers, they add, which could scupper its chances of becoming
a leader in e-commerce.