Category Archives: interception

Data retention / Human rights / Intelligence and security agencies / interception / Jurisdiction / mass surveillance / national security / Security / terrorism

Questions on UK bulk communications data capabilities referred to the EU Court of Justice

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The validity of EU Member State legislation to collect and analyse bulk communications (meta)data about us by the security agencies continues to be vexed by questions over the application of EU privacy law requirements The UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has this month referred questions to the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) in a decision … Continue reading →

Data retention / interception / Security / Surveillance

UK Codes of Practice Enacted to Develop Regulation of State Surveillance Powers

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Law and policy regarding the capture of communications data continues to dominate the headlines for 2016 The European Data Protection Day, and the equivalent US/Canadian Data Privacy Day, coincided last week on 28 January. Their purpose – this year in the 10th edition of their kind, corresponding to the anniversary of the opening for signature … Continue reading →

Intelligence and security agencies / interception / Personal data / Surveillance / terrorism

Bulk Personal Datasets and the ‘Spectre’ of Pervasive Surveillance Concerns Back in the Spotlight with the Investigatory Powers Bill

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Are proposals to introduce oversights over state powers to obtain, analyse, and retain mass sets of personal details sufficient to alleviate concerns where they include data about individuals unconnected to investigations? Much has been written about the UK government’s proposed new Investigatory Powers Bill (IPB) since it was published for consultation by the Home Office, … Continue reading →

Intelligence and security agencies / interception

Two Parliamentary reports give unique insight into the operations of the UK intelligence services, while advocating for overhaul of “piecemeal and “unnecessarily complicated” surveillance rules

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Call for more transparency in UK surveillance legal regime accompanied by revelations regarding the existence of ‘bulk personal datasets’ Two important reports were presented to Parliament in March. They represent a landmark in terms of the level of transparency they provide surrounding the activities of the UK intelligence and security agencies. The reports are: The … Continue reading →

Intelligence and security agencies / interception

Interception of communications data by UK intelligence agencies breached human rights, rules Investigatory Powers Tribunal, but breach subsequently held to be rectified

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Tribunal throws unprecedented critical spotlight on the human-rights compliancy of the UK ‘spy’ agency activities revealed by Snowden The difficulties created by the borderless nature of modern communications are no more evident than when considered in the context of the duties of nation states to look after the security of their citizens, and the outpacing … Continue reading →

Access to data / content data / Data protection / interception / Internet intermediaries / Law enforcement / metadata / Privacy

What if Commissioners could be heard by the right people? Why DRIPA is getting muddier and muddier…

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Just before Christmas, the UK Interception of Communications Commissioner’s Office (IOCCO) published online its submission for the Investigatory Powers Review. It is a 51 p. document full of interesting things. The purpose of this post is to highlight the main points made by the IOCCO with a view to clarifying the debate as regards the … Continue reading →