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UK Government Admits Intelligence Services Allowed To Break Into Any System

Posted by samzenpus on from the whenever-we-feel-like-it dept.

An anonymous reader writes Recently, Techdirt noted that the FBI may soon have permission to break into computers anywhere on the planet. It will come as no surprise to learn that the U.S.'s partner in crime, the UK, granted similar powers to its own intelligence services some time back. What's more unexpected is that it has now publicly said as much, as Privacy International explains: "The British Government has admitted its intelligence services have the broad power to hack into personal phones, computers, and communications networks, and claims they are legally justified to hack anyone, anywhere in the world, even if the target is not a threat to national security nor suspected of any crime." That important admission was made in what the UK government calls its "Open Response" to court cases started last year against GCHQ.

3 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Why is this unexpected? by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Apart from some meaningless bluster, there has been absolutely no negative impact on intelligence services for spying on citizens.

    So why should they not simply say what they are doing, when there are no repercussions for doing so?

    It's not like anyone is going to stop using computers, they will just maintain the happy illusion that no-one is spying on them...

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  2. Re:asdf by Mr.+Freeman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It's also not actually legal. They claim its legal, but whatever laws that they claim allow them to do it are blatant violations of the constitution, at least it is here in the US. Not sure about the UK.

    Of course, you're right, that doesn't matter because they break the law on a daily basis anyway.

    --
    -1 disagree is not a modifier for a reason. -1 troll, flaimbait, redundant, overrated are NOT acceptable substitutes.
  3. Re:asdf by khasim · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If it is illegal, then individuals within that organization can be prosecuted.

    If it is legal, then individuals within that organization can use the government's resources to track husbands/wives/exes/your daughter/celebrities/etc.

    They've confused the line between secrecy and privacy.