UK's Surveillance Measures

The UK has recently proposed an Investigatory Powers Bill, which will provide new surveillance powers to the police and security services.

Given that in this day-and-age most communication is carried out via the internet as opposed to doing so by telephone, the above-mentioned Bill attempts to update the law in order for the police and security services to be empowered to access such communication data.

The bill includes powers requiring internet and telecommunications companies to keep internet records for a maximum of one year, this will allow the above-mentioned persons to track every website visited however, not every page.

Under the provisions of the draft Investigatory Powers Bill the police and security services will be empowered to access records tracking every UK citizen's use of the internet, without the need of acquiring a warrant. What is required is that the investigating officer's request must be signed off by a senior officer.

However, if more intrusive information is needed, such as accessing the content of emails, hacking into computers and tapping telephones, a warrant would be required from the home secretary or another senior minister. In this respect, the draft Bill proposes the creation of the Investigatory Powers Commission made up of a panel of judges, who would have to veto such requests.

Experts have commented on the Bill and...