UK Government's anti-terror purpose
In this Feb. 8, 2012 photo shows inside view of Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. PA

As a part of its anti-terror plan, the UK government is reportedly preparing to store and monitor data from social networking Web sites like Twitter, Facebook and other personal web communication facilities for up to a year.

The process is said to be only months away from being implemented.

However, the government, it seems, has not yet officially told Internet Service Providers (ISP) of the same. This is strange because it is the ISPs who will be required to handle the monitoring and storage of the databases, according to the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA).

"It is important that proposals to update government's capabilities to intercept and retain communications data in the new communications environment are proportionate, respect freedom of expression and the privacy of users, and is widely consulted upon in an open and transparent manner," the ISPA was quoted as saying by ZDNet on Monday.

The plans are being prepared by a Home Office group called Communications Capabilities Directorate, under the Communications Capabilities Development Programme (CCDP). In addition, the plans include first-time access to information that people communicate to each other on messaging services and through online multi-player games, according to The Telegraph.

The contents of the calls and the information itself will not be recorded but details like numbers, names and email addresses will be. This, it is believed, will help the police to monitor and prosecute criminals and tourists, reports The Huffington Post.

The government will look to publish its web interception plan by the end of April 2012 and will want the legislation to be in place by June 2015, according to ZDNet.