Law and Rights
The Draft Communications Data Bill - already branded as a "snooper's charter" and likely to cost at least £1.8 billion over 10 years - has been put before Parliament. A joint committee is to scrutinise the draft bill. In addition, the Intelligence and Security Committee will report on the draft bill.
See the draft bill together with explanatory notes. At a time of supposed financial stringency, the question of this massive cost suddenly does not seem to matter to government. Furthermore, in a democratic society, the necessity for this degree of State intrusion into the communications of every person in the land will be seriously questioned in the weeks and months to come.
Citing the recent sexual grooming case in Rochdale, the Home Secretary Theresa May
told The Sun newspaper: - "I just don?t understand why some criticise these proposals. They must either not get what this data is and how it?s used or just can?t grasp its importance. By trying to stop the police having access to this tool, they are risking both justice and public safety. Conspiracy theorists will come up with ridiculous claims about how these measures infringe freedom."
May's comments were backed by the Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, who wrote in The Times that the powers could be "a matter of life and death". Hogan-Howe has been criticised for his intervention - Daily Mail 15th June. The press release from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is, unsurprisingly, supportive of the need for further powers.
The proposals now merit serious consideration but they are being introduced into a country in which the population is already among the most spied on in the world. CCTV proliferates and the authorities already have extensive powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and under the Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2009. Perhaps having a few "conspiracy theorists" around is not necessarily a bad thing.
Telegraph 14th June - Snooping laws will stop paedophile rings, says Theresa May.
Eversheds - Update 14th June - worth reading for greater detail
Earlier 2008 Bill
Paul Bernal blog - A Police State?
- Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (1) - The Bill And Background Reports
Updated 7th November: The Government has published a much heralded draft bill on the operation and regulation of the investigatory powers used by the police and the intelligence and security agencies. GOV.UK: Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (external...
- Obtaining Data ~ Proposed Amendment To Counter-terrorism And Security Bill Withdrawn
When any Bill is introduced into Parliament, it is not unusual for politicians to introduce amendments. After all, that is a part of their role and it is generally done with a view to either correcting errors or seeking to make improvements to the...
- Drip ~ A Torrent Of Mass Surveillance Seems More Likely!
Update 15th July - DRIP has also produced a torrent of comment ! In an addendum, I have added some further links. Last week, the Home Secretary announced that, with all party agreement, the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill - (DRIP for...
- Data Retention ~ Background / Materials
8 x Updates - latest TODAY: The detection, prevention and investigation of serious crime and national security are matters of enormous concern to government. Legislation requiring retention by service providers of matters such as telephone communications...
- Elected Police Commissioners. Is This A Good Move?
The previous post on this blog took an early overview of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill presented to Parliament on 1st December. Existing Police Authorities will be abolished and there will be elected Police and Crime Commissioners. ...
Law and Rights
Draft Communications Data Bill introduced
See the draft bill together with explanatory notes. At a time of supposed financial stringency, the question of this massive cost suddenly does not seem to matter to government. Furthermore, in a democratic society, the necessity for this degree of State intrusion into the communications of every person in the land will be seriously questioned in the weeks and months to come.
Citing the recent sexual grooming case in Rochdale, the Home Secretary Theresa May
told The Sun newspaper: - "I just don?t understand why some criticise these proposals. They must either not get what this data is and how it?s used or just can?t grasp its importance. By trying to stop the police having access to this tool, they are risking both justice and public safety. Conspiracy theorists will come up with ridiculous claims about how these measures infringe freedom."
May's comments were backed by the Metropolitan police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, who wrote in The Times that the powers could be "a matter of life and death". Hogan-Howe has been criticised for his intervention - Daily Mail 15th June. The press release from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is, unsurprisingly, supportive of the need for further powers.
The proposals now merit serious consideration but they are being introduced into a country in which the population is already among the most spied on in the world. CCTV proliferates and the authorities already have extensive powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and under the Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2009. Perhaps having a few "conspiracy theorists" around is not necessarily a bad thing.
Telegraph 14th June - Snooping laws will stop paedophile rings, says Theresa May.
Eversheds - Update 14th June - worth reading for greater detail
Earlier 2008 Bill
Other commentaries etc:
Paul Bernal blog - A Police State?
- Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (1) - The Bill And Background Reports
Updated 7th November: The Government has published a much heralded draft bill on the operation and regulation of the investigatory powers used by the police and the intelligence and security agencies. GOV.UK: Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (external...
- Obtaining Data ~ Proposed Amendment To Counter-terrorism And Security Bill Withdrawn
When any Bill is introduced into Parliament, it is not unusual for politicians to introduce amendments. After all, that is a part of their role and it is generally done with a view to either correcting errors or seeking to make improvements to the...
- Drip ~ A Torrent Of Mass Surveillance Seems More Likely!
Update 15th July - DRIP has also produced a torrent of comment ! In an addendum, I have added some further links. Last week, the Home Secretary announced that, with all party agreement, the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill - (DRIP for...
- Data Retention ~ Background / Materials
8 x Updates - latest TODAY: The detection, prevention and investigation of serious crime and national security are matters of enormous concern to government. Legislation requiring retention by service providers of matters such as telephone communications...
- Elected Police Commissioners. Is This A Good Move?
The previous post on this blog took an early overview of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill presented to Parliament on 1st December. Existing Police Authorities will be abolished and there will be elected Police and Crime Commissioners. ...