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GCHQ Officials Given Immunity From Hacking Charges

Posted by Soulskill on from the government-in-CYA-mode dept.

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.

4 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. They can do ANYTHING anyway...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ......this just formalizes it for the plebs .

  2. They made a good argument, though. by pushing-robot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "James Bond has a license to kill, does he not?"

    "That's right."

    "Shoot someone, get off scot-free?"

    "Yes, why?"

    "So then, why do computer crimes carry a worse sentence than murder?"

    --
    How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  3. good thing that's common. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Good thing Aaron Swartz got similar immunity from any laws broken.

    Oh, wait, my bad. That's not what happened. Instead they tried to destroy his life. For fuck-all social harm, and arguable social good, compared to the NSA and GCHQ who have caused incalculable harm to our society.

  4. Why Do We Carry On Pretending? by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We all know Western Civilization has fallen to Fascism, so why not just come out and announce it? Why bother with these pieces of meaningless paper such as "Laws" and "Constitutions"? It's clear the rule of Law only applies to the Subjects, not the Wealthy or the Government. How about Marshall law? How about jackboots and arm bands and "show me your papers" and "up against the wall"? We're pretty much there anyway, but we all seem so intent on playing this bullshit game and pretending we still live in a free society.

    When will someone just fucking go ahead and blink already????