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Judges Say the UK's Digital Surveillance Program Snooper's Charter Is Illegal (betanews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the big-ruling dept.

Mark Wilson writes: Judges have ruled that the UK government's digital surveillance program -- known variously as the Snooper's Charter and the Investigatory Powers Act -- is illegal.

In the case brought by human rights group Liberty, appeal judges found that the preceding Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 (DRIPA) -- which ultimately became the Snooper's Charter -- failed to offer adequate protection to people's data. Of particular concern was the fact that private data could be shared between different agencies without sufficient oversight. Further reading: The Intercept.

2 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  2. Re:Not really by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Unfortunately judges in the UK have aquired a taste for power in recent decades and have a habit of overturning laws that were passed by the democratically elected MPs in the commons.

    Sorry, but if democratically elected MPs can't pass laws which pass legal muster, that's their goddamned fucking problem.

    Being democratically elected is only part of the story. Writing laws which are legal is the other part.

    For the same reason that any healthy democracy should have underpinnings which say "no, you don't get to decide these people are slaves", the judiciary is there to prevent people from passing laws which say exactly that.

    If you live in a country where judges can't strike down laws as illegal, then you are in a seriously fucked country where lawmakers have absolute power and can pass any stupid ass law they want ... all MPs get to fuck your daughter and your wife whenever they wish, for instance.

    So, hey, if you are stupid enough to think you want to live in a country where judges can't void laws ... then please, fuck off and go live in one. I guarantee you, it won't be a nice place.

    Know who wants to live in a country where the judiciary can't strike down laws? Tyrants, fascists, and mewling idiots who are too stupid to understand the function of a judicial system in society.

    If you want to live in such a country, move to one, and then shut the fuck up.