GCHQ Officials Given Immunity From Hacking Charges

An anonymous reader writes with news that members of British intelligence agency GCHQ have been granted immunity from prosecution for any laws they might have violated while hacking into citizens' computers or cellphones. The immunity was granted by changes to the Computer Misuse Act that weren't noticed until now, and not discussed or debated when implemented. While different legislation has long been thought to grant permission for illegal activities abroad, civil rights groups were unaware that domestic hacking activities were covered now as well. The legislative changes were passed on March 3rd, 2015, long after domestic spying became a hot-button issue, and almost a year after Privacy International and several ISPs filed complaints challenging it.

Comments

The UK, trying to beat China, NK at their own game

[Anonymous Coward]

What the UK is doing really frightens me, for the people that live there, and for the rest of the world.

That's not the future I want.

Good

[WaffleMonster]

Maybe all of this government sponsored asshattery will encourage more people to get off their asses and invest more effort into fixing all of our broken shit.

If governments want to piss away their capabilities hacking their own people because they can then let them do it and fuck themselves over.

Anarchy

[7-Vodka]

I'm beginning to think the anarchists have a point.

"As long as there are rulers, we can't have rules"

Because they're always going to make exceptions for themselves and their cronies, and use the rules to stick it to everyone else, while loudly decrying that they speak *for* us.....

Re:The UK, trying to beat China, NK at their own g

[l0n3s0m3phr34k]

I just watched Ex Machina last night...BEST ENDING EVER.