Murder conviction of Chinese MI6 informant referred to appeal court – The Guardian

Posted April 29th, 2016 in appeals, informers, intelligence services, murder, news by tracey

‘The murder conviction of a leading Chinese dissident and MI6 informant has been referred to the court of appeal after the Guardian uncovered evidence that was withheld by the police.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK spy agencies have collected bulk personal data since 1990s, files show – The Guardian

‘Britain’s intelligence agencies have been secretly collecting bulk personal data since the late 1990s and privately admit they have gathered information on people who are “unlikely to be of intelligence or security interest”.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

European parliament set to pass passenger data law – The Guardian

Posted April 14th, 2016 in airports, data protection, EC law, intelligence services, news by sally

‘A counter-terrorism plan to share air-passenger data is set to become European law after five years of wrangling over security needs and privacy concerns.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

EU court hears case on UK data retention laws – OUT-LAW.com

‘The EU’s highest court will hear arguments on Tuesday concerning the validity of UK data retention laws.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 12th April 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

European court to consider legality of UK surveillance laws – The Guardian

Posted April 12th, 2016 in bills, courts, EC law, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news by sally

‘The legality of Britain’s surveillance laws will come under the intense scrutiny of 15 European judges on Tuesday in a politically sensitive test case that could limit powers to gather online data.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Chilcot Inquiry into Iraq war to be vetted by spies ahead of summer publication – The Independent

‘Britain’s intelligence agencies are preparing to vet the final version of the Chilcot Inquiry’s report into the Iraq war ahead of publication this summer.’

Full story

The Independent, 10th April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Secret court hearing to rule on Foreign Office’s evaluation of human rights – The Guardian

‘A three-year battle by the Foreign Office (FCO) to keep secret how diplomatic issues colour its human rights decisions reached its climax on Thursday, in a court case that was itself largely held in secret at the insistence of the security services.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Byron Karemba: The Investigatory Powers Bill: Introducing Judicial Authorisation of Surveillance Warrants in the United Kingdom – Putting the ‘Double-Lock’ in Focus (Part I) – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘When the Home Secretary commended the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in November 2015, she lauded the oversight mechanisms in the Bill as ‘world-leading.’ A seminal feature of this new regime is the creation of a single Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPCr) who is aided by a set of Judicial Commissioners (JCs) in exercising both ex ante and ex post facto oversight over the use of a range of surveillance measures. The IPCr will replace the existing fragmented (RIPA Part VI) framework of the Intelligence Services Commissioner, the Office of Surveillance Commissioner and the Interception of Communications Commissioner whom hitherto have (largely) conducted ex post facto oversight functions.’

Full story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd March 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

EU referendum: Rules giving ‘free pass’ to terror suspects – BBC News

‘Being in the EU makes it harder for the UK to stop serious criminals and those with suspected terror links entering the country, a UK minister is to say.’

Full story

BBC News, 30th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EU judges could limit UK surveillance powers before referendum – The Guardian

Posted March 29th, 2016 in EC law, intelligence services, investigatory powers, news, police, referendums by sally

‘EU judges in Luxembourg could limit key powers in UK surveillance laws just weeks before Britain votes on its EU membership.’

Full story

The Guardian, 27th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Investigatory Powers Bill: May defends surveillance powers – BBC News

‘Home Secretary Theresa May has defended controversial new surveillance powers as MPs debated them for the first time.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th March 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Goddard inquiry to hold preliminary hearing on abuse linked to church – The Guardian

‘The Wednesday in an investigation into the track record of Anglican churches in England and Wales in preventing exploitation, dealing with perpetrators and helping survivors to overcome trauma and obtain justice.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

We need to get this investigatory powers bill right – it’s not fit for purpose now – The Guardian

Posted March 15th, 2016 in bills, intelligence services, internet, investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

‘The second reading of the bill today is an opportunity for Labour to challenge the government on substance and process – and fight for a law fit for the 21st century.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The snooper’s charter is flying through parliament. Don’t think it’s irrelevant to you – The Guardian

‘While the Apple v FBI row makes world headlines, people in the UK are disregarding a bill that permits hacking and gagging.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Round-up: companies off the hook for human rights abuses? – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The UK government is letting companies “off the hook” for human rights abuses, according to Amnesty International.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 29th February 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Investigatory Powers Bill published – Home Office

‘The Government introduced the Investigatory Powers Bill to Parliament today (Tuesday 1 March). The Bill sets out the powers available to the police, security and intelligence services to gather and access communications and communications data in the digital age, subject to strict safeguards and world-leading oversight arrangements.’

Full press release

Home Office, 1st March 2016

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

UK spying laws: Government introduces law requiring WhatsApp and iMessage to break their own security – The Independent

‘The draft Investigatory Powers Bill, or Snoopers’ Charter, keeps a provision that weakening of security will only happen in cases where it is ‘practicable’, but that could still allow the Government to outlaw many of the most popular chat services as they currently exist.’

Full story

The Independent, 1st March 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office to publish revised draft of snooper’s charter – The Guardian

‘The home secretary, Theresa May, has revised some elements of her controversial “snooper’s charter” legislation in an attempt to address criticism by MPs and peers of the surveillance powers it confers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Operation Elveden: Met inquiry into payments to public officials closes – The Guardian

‘Scotland Yard’s investigation into payments by journalists to police and other public officials has officially closed after five years.’

Full story

The Guardian, 26th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Public inquiry to scrutinise claims that police covertly monitored politicians – The Guardian

Posted February 19th, 2016 in inquiries, intelligence services, news, parliament, police, spying, whistleblowers by sally

‘The question of whether police spied on elected politicians could turn out to be one of the major issues that will be examined by the public inquiry into undercover policing.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th February 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk