UK Plan Would Increase Secret Surveillance Oversight, But Also Broaden Powers
The United Kingdom Home Office sought a bill that it said would transform the law on the use and oversight of police, security and intelligence agencies' investigatory powers. While the bill would provide additional oversight for government surveillance practices, media…
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and privacy groups said it would also erode privacy practices. It would have the effect of "forcing communications service providers to keep a record of their customers’ web browsing histories as well as their calls, e-mails, and other communications, and new restrictions that may hamper the use of end-to-end encryption technologies," said the Center for Democracy and Technology in a statement. A Home Office summary said the bill would introduce a "double-lock" for interception warrants that "cannot come into force until they have been approved by a judge" and establish an investigatory powers commissioner to oversee how such surveillance powers are used. It said the bill would ensure that Internet connection records are retained so police can identify the communications service tied to a device. But CDT legal fellow Sarah St.Vincent said these new powers would "likely violate the UK’s obligations under human rights and EU law. We remain concerned about how thorough that oversight will be, and whether it is actually capable of preventing serious abuses." The Investigatory Powers Bill "is part of a trend towards more surveillance in Europe," said the Computer and Communications Industry Association. It's a "setback for privacy rights," said CCIA Europe Director Christian Borggreen.