PM's envoy: international data-sharing laws insufficient for security services

Intelligence and law enforcement data-sharing envoy in treaty talks with internet companies, the US and other governments over co-operation in terrorism cases

Existing international laws will never be enough to persuade US internet companies to hand over their customers' personal data to the British security services in urgent counter-terrorism or "threat-to-life cases", according to a secret report by the prime minister's special data envoy.

An official two-page summary of the report by Sir Nigel Sheinwald, David Cameron's special envoy on intelligence and law enforcement data sharing, says he has started talks on a new international data-sharing treaty with the internet companies, the US and other governments. He hopes the treaty w ill give the British police and security services access to stored content in serious crime and counter-terrorism cases. The conclusions of his report were leaked to the Guardian earlier this month.