Law and Rights
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.
The Bill is a large document (9 Parts and 9 Schedules) and requires some detailed consideration. The first link provided above goes to a document that is 299 pages long. No doubt, in the weeks to come, there will be volumes of comments. Meanwhile, here is some of the background material.
RUSI report - July 2015:
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) reported in July 2015 - A Democratic Licence to operate. The Review shows how a democracy can combine the high level of security the public have a right to expect and also ensure the respect for privacy and freedom of speech that are the foundations of a democracy. The panel unanimously calls on government, civil society and industry to accept its recommendations and work together to put them into practice.
Statements and articles:
4th November - Statements in Parliament
4th November - Intelligence and Security Committee Media Statement
The Guardian (5th November) took an early look at the Draft Bill - Mass Snopping and more: the measures in Theresa May's Bill
- Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (2) - Some Of The Early Reaction
The Draft Investigatory Powers Bill has attracted a considerable amount of initial reaction. For details of the Bill and links to the various reports that have influenced the Bill's content see Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (1). The Homes...
- Investigative Powers ~ An Important Report
Updated The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation fulfills a vital role in the scrutiny of powers given to the executive and law enforcement agencies. In 2014, the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIP) was hurriedly enacted in just...
- Counter Terrorism And Security Bill - Joint Committee On Human Rights
Updated 13th January The Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued its report on the Counter Terrorism and Security Bill and has called for better safeguards in a number of areas. The Committee's Conclusions and Recommendations are HERE. Report:...
- Terrorism ~ Report On The Murder Of Fusilier Lee Rigby
The need for legislation to give Ministers more anti-terrorism powers was announced earlier this month - Further anti-terrorism powers (15th November). The new Anti-terrorism and Security Bill is to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday 26th November. ...
- Draft Communications Data Bill Introduced
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...
Law and Rights
Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (1) - The Bill and Background reports
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 site)
- GOV.UK: Home Secretary on publication of the Anderson Report (external site)
- The Report of the Investigatory Powers Review: written statement 11 June 2015
The Bill is a large document (9 Parts and 9 Schedules) and requires some detailed consideration. The first link provided above goes to a document that is 299 pages long. No doubt, in the weeks to come, there will be volumes of comments. Meanwhile, here is some of the background material.
Intelligence and Security Committee Report of Privacy and Security - March 2015:
This Report includes, for the first time in a single document,
a comprehensive review of the full range of intrusive capabilities available to the UK intelligence Agencies. It contains an unprecedented amount of information about those capabilities, the legal framework governing their use, and the privacy protections and safeguards that apply. The Report also reveals the use of certain capabilities ? such as Bulk Personal Datasets and Directions under the Telecommunications Act 1984 ? for the first time. The Report represents a landmark in terms of the openness and transparency surrounding the Agencies? work.
a comprehensive review of the full range of intrusive capabilities available to the UK intelligence Agencies. It contains an unprecedented amount of information about those capabilities, the legal framework governing their use, and the privacy protections and safeguards that apply. The Report also reveals the use of certain capabilities ? such as Bulk Personal Datasets and Directions under the Telecommunications Act 1984 ? for the first time. The Report represents a landmark in terms of the openness and transparency surrounding the Agencies? work.
- Committee Press Release on Privacy and Security
- Opening statement from press conference
- Privacy and Security: A modern and transparent legal framework
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) reported in July 2015 - A Democratic Licence to operate. The Review shows how a democracy can combine the high level of security the public have a right to expect and also ensure the respect for privacy and freedom of speech that are the foundations of a democracy. The panel unanimously calls on government, civil society and industry to accept its recommendations and work together to put them into practice.
Statements and articles:
4th November - Statements in Parliament
4th November - Intelligence and Security Committee Media Statement
The Guardian (5th November) took an early look at the Draft Bill - Mass Snopping and more: the measures in Theresa May's Bill
- Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (2) - Some Of The Early Reaction
The Draft Investigatory Powers Bill has attracted a considerable amount of initial reaction. For details of the Bill and links to the various reports that have influenced the Bill's content see Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (1). The Homes...
- Investigative Powers ~ An Important Report
Updated The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation fulfills a vital role in the scrutiny of powers given to the executive and law enforcement agencies. In 2014, the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIP) was hurriedly enacted in just...
- Counter Terrorism And Security Bill - Joint Committee On Human Rights
Updated 13th January The Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued its report on the Counter Terrorism and Security Bill and has called for better safeguards in a number of areas. The Committee's Conclusions and Recommendations are HERE. Report:...
- Terrorism ~ Report On The Murder Of Fusilier Lee Rigby
The need for legislation to give Ministers more anti-terrorism powers was announced earlier this month - Further anti-terrorism powers (15th November). The new Anti-terrorism and Security Bill is to be presented to Parliament on Wednesday 26th November. ...
- Draft Communications Data Bill Introduced
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...