The UK Is About to Legalize Mass Surveillance [Update] (vice.com)

From a report on Motherboard: On Tuesday, the UK is due to pass its controversial new surveillance law, the Investigatory Powers Act, according to the Home Office. The Act, which has received overwhelming support in both the House of Commons and Lords, formally legalizes a number of mass surveillance programs revealed by Edward Snowden in 2013. It also introduces a new power which will force internet service providers to store browsing data on all customers for 12 months. Civil liberties campaigners have described the Act as one of the most extreme surveillance laws in any democracy, while law enforcement agencies believe that the collection of browsing data is vital in an age of ubiquitous internet communications. "The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 will ensure that law enforcement and the security and intelligence agencies have the powers they need in a digital age to disrupt terrorist attacks, subject to strict safeguards and world-leading oversight," a statement from the Home Office reads. Much of the Act gives stronger legal footing to the UK's various bulk powers, including "bulk interception," which is, in general terms, the collection of internet and phone communications en masse. In June 2013, using documents provided by Edward Snowden, The Guardian revealed that the GCHQ taps fibre-optic undersea cables in order to intercept emails, internet histories, calls, and a wealth of other data. Update: "Snooper's charter" bill has become the law. The home secretary said:"The Investigatory Powers Act is world-leading legislation, that provides unprecedented transparency and substantial privacy protection. "The government is clear that, at a time of heightened security threat, it is essential our law enforcement and security and intelligence services have the power they need to keep people safe. The internet presents new opportunities for terrorists and we must ensure we have the capabilities to confront this challenge. But it is also right that these powers are subject to strict safeguards and rigorous oversight."

Comments

Not just law

[Anonymous Coward]

but the NHS, Food Standards Agency, and a number of WTFs can access this data.

You will also notice the extreme-left BBC not covering it, nether is the far right; in facts it's merely hidden away wherever you look.

Furthermore, once it's collected, you can be damn sure it will be sold. Anyone doubting this should consider the DVLA, whose data was extremely and would lead to jail terms if you improperly used it, can now be purchased.

Re:And us too - soon

[Maritz]

Face it, the people don't want to really be free. They want to feel safe above all else.

Deeply pathetic isn't it? The same kind of overt, sickening displays of cowardice got Trump elected. White people afraid of Mexicans, Muslims, whatever else. Spineless fuckers.

It's been said since the dawn of civilization and we still don't get it. Safety is the tyrants' tool. We already have absurd levels of safety - now to be thrown away due to a demagogue.

There will be a lot less Trump and Brexit cheerleaders on here in 4 years.