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| Surveillance powers: New law needed, says terror watchdog | Surveillance powers: New law needed, says terror watchdog |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Clear new laws are needed to cover security services' powers to monitor online activity, the UK's terror watchdog has said. | Clear new laws are needed to cover security services' powers to monitor online activity, the UK's terror watchdog has said. |
| David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the UK needed "comprehensive and comprehensible" intrusive powers rules. | David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the UK needed "comprehensive and comprehensible" intrusive powers rules. |
| Existing legislation was "fragmented" and "obscure", he said in a 300-page report. | Existing legislation was "fragmented" and "obscure", he said in a 300-page report. |
| Ministers want new laws to help police and agencies monitor online threats. | Ministers want new laws to help police and agencies monitor online threats. |
| But critics have dubbed government proposals a "snoopers' charter", warning the plans will infringe privacy. | But critics have dubbed government proposals a "snoopers' charter", warning the plans will infringe privacy. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May said the report provided a firm basis for consultation on the new legislation which would come in the autumn. | Home Secretary Theresa May said the report provided a firm basis for consultation on the new legislation which would come in the autumn. |
| Mr Anderson's report, called A Question Of Trust, was commissioned as part of the government's plans to modernise what types of activity security agencies can capture in their pursuit of criminals and terrorists. | Mr Anderson's report, called A Question Of Trust, was commissioned as part of the government's plans to modernise what types of activity security agencies can capture in their pursuit of criminals and terrorists. |
| The current legislation pre-dates most internet-led communications such as apps and social media. | The current legislation pre-dates most internet-led communications such as apps and social media. |
| The report recommends that: | The report recommends that: |
| Investigatory powers explained | Investigatory powers explained |
| Mr Anderson said: "Modern communications can be used by the unscrupulous for purposes ranging from cyber-attack, terrorism and espionage to fraud, kidnap and child sexual exploitation. | Mr Anderson said: "Modern communications can be used by the unscrupulous for purposes ranging from cyber-attack, terrorism and espionage to fraud, kidnap and child sexual exploitation. |
| "A successful response to these threats depends on entrusting public bodies with the powers they need to identify and follow suspects in a borderless online world. But trust requires verification." | "A successful response to these threats depends on entrusting public bodies with the powers they need to identify and follow suspects in a borderless online world. But trust requires verification." |
| He went on: "Each intrusive power must be shown to be necessary, clearly spelled out in law, limited in accordance with international human rights standards and subject to demanding and visible safeguards. The current law is fragmented, obscure, under constant challenge. It is time for a clean slate." | He went on: "Each intrusive power must be shown to be necessary, clearly spelled out in law, limited in accordance with international human rights standards and subject to demanding and visible safeguards. The current law is fragmented, obscure, under constant challenge. It is time for a clean slate." |
| He said that in the digital world, as in the real world, "no-go areas" for intelligence and law enforcement agencies should be minimised. | He said that in the digital world, as in the real world, "no-go areas" for intelligence and law enforcement agencies should be minimised. |
| "The agencies do not look to legislation to give themselves a permanent trump card," he wrote. "Neither they nor anyone else has made a case to me for encryption to be placed under effective government control." | "The agencies do not look to legislation to give themselves a permanent trump card," he wrote. "Neither they nor anyone else has made a case to me for encryption to be placed under effective government control." |
| The government's forthcoming communications data legislation was first mooted by Tony Blair's government and then dropped - before being revived under the coalition. | The government's forthcoming communications data legislation was first mooted by Tony Blair's government and then dropped - before being revived under the coalition. |
| Ministers dropped the plan following a coalition row after the Liberal Democrats blocked it. The home secretary wants it passed before some related emergency powers expire at the end of 2016. | Ministers dropped the plan following a coalition row after the Liberal Democrats blocked it. The home secretary wants it passed before some related emergency powers expire at the end of 2016. |
| 'Evolving threats' | 'Evolving threats' |
| Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs May welcomed Mr Anderson's report, insisting that the UK must not overlook how threats were evolving. | Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs May welcomed Mr Anderson's report, insisting that the UK must not overlook how threats were evolving. |
| She said: "They include not just terrorism from overseas and home grown in the UK, but also industrial, military and state espionage. In the face of such threats, we have a duty to ensure that the agencies whose job it is to keep us safe have the powers they need to do the job," she added. | She said: "They include not just terrorism from overseas and home grown in the UK, but also industrial, military and state espionage. In the face of such threats, we have a duty to ensure that the agencies whose job it is to keep us safe have the powers they need to do the job," she added. |
| And Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Labour had backed the Anderson review because it had already concluded current laws were no longer fit for purpose. | And Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Labour had backed the Anderson review because it had already concluded current laws were no longer fit for purpose. |
| "Technology has moved on. But neither the law nor the oversight have," she said. "Reforms are needed. We need to get them right. In a democracy we need to protect both our liberty and our security." | "Technology has moved on. But neither the law nor the oversight have," she said. "Reforms are needed. We need to get them right. In a democracy we need to protect both our liberty and our security." |
| National Police Chiefs' Council chair Sara Thornton said crime was increasingly being committed or arranged online - whether by fraudsters, rapists, child abusers or terrorists. | National Police Chiefs' Council chair Sara Thornton said crime was increasingly being committed or arranged online - whether by fraudsters, rapists, child abusers or terrorists. |
| "In recent years, more blind spots have developed where police cannot effectively trace criminal activity," she said. "Children have been driven to self-harm by harassment and bullying online but our attempts to investigate and stop it are curtailed by our inability to see who is talking to them on social media. | |
| Rachel Logan, of Amnesty International, said she was pleased that Mr Anderson's report agreed the country's surveillance laws needed a "radical overhaul". | |
| "We'll need to see the fine detail here and we'll be arguing strongly for proper limits on the powers of the snoops and the spooks," she said. | |
| "The government should stop trying to make the UK the world's leading surveillance state. People are rightly saying to ministers - don't spy on us." |