If taken literally, the announcement would mean that the UK government could intervene and block the rollout of new privacy features for messaging apps.

The Investigatory Powers Amendment Bill, outlined in the King's Speech would oblige companies to inform the Home Office in advance about any security or privacy features they want to add to their platforms, including encryption.

Currently, the government can force telecom companies and messaging platforms to supply data on national security grounds and help with criminal investigations.

The new legislation was designed to "recalibrate" those powers to respond to risks posed to public safety by multinational tech companies rolling out new services that "preclude lawful access to data," the government said.

Private messaging group Signal president Meredith Whittaker urged ministers to provide more clarity on what she described as a "bellicose" proposal amid fears that, if enacted, the new legislation would allow ministers and officials to veto the introduction of new safety features.

"We will need to see the details, but what is being described suggests an astonishing level of technically confused government over-reach that will make it nearly impossible for any homegrown or foreign service to operate with integrity in the UK," she told the Financial Times.