Archive for interception modernisation programme
Why doesn’t Theresa May want mandatory tracking of all cars?
Because it is an absurd idea may well be your answer to that question even before you’ve reached the end of it. But bear with me a moment. Imagine a government policy to have mandatory tracking devices in all motor vehicles, which would record all the journeys and store the data. The data would normally [...]
Draft Communications Data Bill: working through the clauses
I’ve written extensively about the wider issues around the Draft Communications Data Bill already, but in this post I’m collecting some of my thoughts on the details of its individual clauses. My view of the more general perspective is summed up in Walking: it’s time to take action on this major terrorist threat. By all [...]
Draft Communications Data Bill: initial Liberal Democrat reactions
Looking round the blogs this evening, these are the responses I’ve found so far to today’s publication of the Draft Communications Data Bill, all of which are well worth reading in full: CCDP First impressions: A bill with too few safeguards – Zoe O’Connell Clause 1 which places the obligations on ISPs to collect data [...]
Online monitoring: the good and the bad news today
The government’s proposals for extending online monitoring, published today, are not a happy read. There have been some welcome, but relatively small, changes from what Theresa May was pushing for earlier in the year, such as the concession that any expanded monitoring powers will not be available to local councils, who were at the forefront [...]
Government sets out timetable for draft Communications Data Bill
This week Parliament agreed the following motion, confirming the plans to have a joint committee scrutinise a draft Communications Data Bill (aka online snooping powers): That it is expedient that a joint committee of Lords and Commons be appointed to consider and report on any draft Communications Data Bill presented to both Houses in the [...]
The technology that will defeat the government’s online monitoring plans
Following the Queen’s Speech it is becoming a little clearer – although only a little clearer – what it is that some parts of the Home Office want to achieve by pushing for the Communications Capability Development Programme (CCDP, aka Online Snooping Charter). One scenario is this: the law enforcement authorities start having solid grounds [...]
Former GCHQ chief offers six principles for online monitoring
The Demos think tank report into online monitoring and what should or should not be done is of particular interest as one of the co-authors is Sir David Omand, the man formerly in charge at GCHQ. He and his co-authors offer up six principles for state monitoring of social media: We believe any use of [...]
Interception of Communications Commissioner: Annual Reports
I have been putting together a set of the Annual Reports from the Interception of Communications Commissioner for future reference, so in case anyone else finds it useuful too… Interception of Communications Commissioner – 2000 Annual Report Interception of Communications Commissioner – 2001 Annual Report Interception of Communications Commissioner – 2002 Annual Report Interception of [...]
Paddy Ashdown: Snoopers’ charter breaches the coalition deal
Writing today in The Times [£], former Liberal Democrat leader and former Secret Intelligence Service man Paddy Ashdown writes: Liberals accept, subject to safeguards decided by Parliament, that the government has a right to intercept the private communications of its citizens where it is necessary for national security and in the pursuit of serious crime, [...]
Lynne Featherstone’s view on reforming RIPA
I blogged yesterday about how flawed RIPA, the regulatory structure for official snooping on our communications, is. What’s the view of Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat minister in the Home Office, about all this? Well, this is what she posted up on her Facebook wall during the week: My view – support for any new [...]
