Search engines such as Google could be forced to store details of web searches for up to two years after the plan was backed by more than 300 European MEPs.
The proposals have been criticised by civil liberties groups
It is designed to help authorities develop an "early warning system" against paedophiles and sex offenders using the internet.
The proposals have been criticised by civil liberties groups who object to what would amount to a significant increase in the monitoring of online activity.
At present 324 MEPs have backed Written Declaration 29, which would extend existing legislation which obliges internet service providers to keep basic search data for up to two years.
The declaration will be examined by the European Commission if it wins the backing of 369 MEPs, but it will be under no obligation to make it law.
Privacy International, the civil liberties group, told The Independent: "While we support initiatives that are carefully and sensitively designed on the basis of a lawful and rational foundation, this proposal appears to us to be a both illegal and counter-productive.
"It is not acceptable or appropriate to dissolve the fundamental right to privacy on the basis of an utterly incoherent argument that it will protect our children - when clearly it will ultimately fail to meet such a mandate.
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MEPs call for search engines to store web search histories for two years - Telegraph
The proposals have been criticised by civil liberties groups It is designed to help authorities develop an "early warning system" against paedophiles and sex offenders using the internet.
The proposals have been criticised by civil liberties groups who object to what would amount to a significant increase in the monitoring of online activity.
At present 324 MEPs have backed Written Declaration 29, which would extend existing legislation which obliges internet service providers to keep basic search data for up to two years.
The declaration will be examined by the European Commission if it wins the backing of 369 MEPs, but it will be under no obligation to make it law.
Privacy International, the civil liberties group, told The Independent: "While we support initiatives that are carefully and sensitively designed on the basis of a lawful and rational foundation, this proposal appears to us to be a both illegal and counter-productive.
"It is not acceptable or appropriate to dissolve the fundamental right to privacy on the basis of an utterly incoherent argument that it will protect our children - when clearly it will ultimately fail to meet such a mandate.
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MEPs call for search engines to store web search histories for two years - Telegraph
, this is the thing.
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