Researchers in Scotland are developing a new kind of Web monitoring software that they claim can collect enormous amounts of data on Web surfers while remaining nearly undetectable. The technology came to light when it was chosen as one of 40 . . .

Researchers in Scotland are developing a new kind of Web monitoring software that they claim can collect enormous amounts of data on Web surfers while remaining nearly undetectable. The technology came to light when it was chosen as one of 40 technologies funded this year by the Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's economic development agency. The University of Strathclyde received the award for an undisclosed sum Thursday.

Dr. Lykourgos Petropoulakis, who is heading the 18-month research project, declined to comment on the technology, calling it "highly classified" information.

Web surveillance software has drawn intense interest from consumer advocates, who fear the interactive nature of the Internet can provide unprecedented power for governments, corporations and individuals to trample people's privacy. Several monitoring systems have been developed for use by law enforcement agencies that remain cloaked in secrecy, ostensibly due to security concerns.

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