Security News > 2020 > July > UK surveillance laws tightened up as most spying demands to be subject to warrants

UK surveillance laws tightened up as most spying demands to be subject to warrants
2020-07-23 09:26

Legal told The Register that the laws "Cut away some of the powers which up until today can be used to obtain communications data".

In other words, as section 12(5)(a)(i) puts it, any surveillance power granted to the public sector under any law other than the Snoopers' Charter itself or the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 now can't be exercised unless your telco or Royal Mail can be persuaded to hand over access to your communications.

Abuse of surveillance powers by councils in particular has long been a feature, not a bug, of UK domestic spying laws.

Back in 2008, Bury Council was given a £100,000 slap on the wrist after abusing RIPA powers to covertly surveil a bin lorry crew who picked up the wrong rubbish.

In addition to issuing annual reports into the use of spying powers by state agencies, IPCO also counts a number of retired judges in its ranks as judicial commissioners.


News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2020/07/23/investigatory_powers_act_commencements/