Police surveillance powers expanded in new ‘snoopers’ charter’
RT.com
1 Mar, 2016
Police powers will be extended in the new draft of the ‘snoopers’ charter’ to enable them to access people’s web browsing histories and to hack into phones.
The revised Investigatory Powers Bill published on Tuesday defies criticisms from three separate parliamentary committees by expanding the most controversial powers, including the collection and storage of everyone’s web browsing history for 12 months and government powers to hack into citizens’ computers and smartphones.
Home Secretary Theresa May said the new legislation reflected the majority of the 122 recommendations made my MPs and peers by addressing issues concerning privacy protections, oversight arrangements and strengthened safeguards.
The Conservatives are touting the ‘snoopers’ charter’ as the first comprehensive legal framework for state surveillance in the world and hope to push it through Parliament this year.
May’s revised draft has been amended to reflect worries within the technology industry that surveillance laws would undermine or break encryption. The bill does not require companies to remove encryption of their own services if it is not technically feasible and it stipulates the projected costs will be taken into account.
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