New legislation is to be introduced to promote electronic commerce in the UK, the government has pledged in the Queen's Speech today. But some of the steps to be taken to start modernising the law and improve competitiveness in the digital marketplace are set to provoke controversy. Plans to allow the police access to private electronic communications if they suspect criminal activity are certain to provoke the hostility of civil rights organisations. A white paper will be published next month. The Bill is expected to be debated in the spring. ®