UK IP Bill Will Allow Government To Spy On Journalists

The Investigatory Powers Bill will allow the UK Intelligence services and the Police to monitor and access journalist Internet, phone and data records. 

The House of Lords has peers who have warned against the Bill’s new computer hacking powers.
Peers have issued a serious warning that the government’s proposed “snooper’s charter” law could endanger journalists and their sources.

The House of Lords heard a strong cross-party plea that greater protection for journalists’ sources was needed in Theresa May’s investigatory powers bill, which seeks to extend the powers of state surveillance.

The committee stage of the bill recently heard statements from peers that “computer hacking” powers in the bill could allow the state to access a journalist’s notes or video footage stored on their phone, or use its microphone as a bug.

Ministers heard that the powers could lead to footage filmed by journalists of riots or demonstrations that turn violent being accessed remotely by the police despite safeguards in the bill that such state hacking would only be warranted in cases involving national security or serious crime.

They also heard warnings that safeguards in the bill were too weak to protect the confidentiality of journalistic and other sources from being identified through police and security service access to communications data, including phone and internet connection records, which will track an individual’s web history.

Lord Colville, a BBC producer and director, moved a cross-party amendment on Monday night calling for stronger protections in the bill for journalists’ sources and material, including a right for media organisations to be notified of a request for a warrant targeting them before it is approved by a judicial commissioner.

He told peers that he wanted to see protections for journalists already in the bill, covering state access to phone records and other communications data, extended to other state surveillance powers in the bill.

“I am particularly keen for the power for targeted equipment interference to be covered by a safeguard for sources. This could be material owned by the journalist or the source who is giving the information,” said Colville. “Targeted equipment interference includes the ability to use a mobile phone’s microphone as a bug. It could also include looking at a journalist’s electronic notebook and at footage shot in the course of a story, which, as a broadcast journalist, worries me a lot.”

Lord Black of Brentwood, an executive director of the Telegraph Media Group, supporting the cross-party amendment, said that the protection of sources was crucial for investigative reporting, whistleblowing and unfettered political debate.

He said there had been “unprecedented cooperation” across the media to seek strong protections for sources in the bill, citing recent examples where surveillance legislation had been used by police and councils to identify the sources of leaks despite previous specific assurances by ministers.

Black said existing safeguards in the bill only governed acquisition of communications data solely for the purpose of identifying or confirming the identity of a journalistic source.

“Crucially, it does not apply to acquisition of data for other purposes. But most importantly, it does not allow for prior notification to the media of an application to use the bill’s powers, and the opportunity for the media to make submissions on whether this will impact on the confidentiality of a source,” he said.

“It is all very well having judicial safeguards in place, but they will not work unless the judicial commissioner assessing the application has all the relevant information before applying his or her judgment and making an informed decision. After all, how can a judicial commissioner possibly know what they do not know? That is almost Kafkaesque.
“Without input from the media – and I recognise that there must be exceptions to this where a journalist or media organisation is under suspicion – they could not possibly, for instance, know how the use of surveillance could actually place the life of a source, or indeed of a journalist, in danger and other such considerations,” added Black.

For the government, Earl Howe said the bill had already been strengthened to protect journalists’ sources, including an overarching privacy clause which required the police and judicial commissioners to consider the public interest when obtaining and granting warrants.

But he rejected the amendment saying it was seeking “blanket protection” for journalists from legitimate investigation simply because of their chosen profession. The amendment was withdrawn pending further discussions but is likely to be pressed again at a later stage of the bill.

Guardian

« US and EU Implement Privacy Shield
UK National Crime Agency: Criminals Winning 'Cyber Arms Race' »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

Splunk

Splunk

Splunk provide real-time Security Information & Event Management solutions for Enterprise Networks, Cloud and small-scale IT environments

Asigra

Asigra

Asigra provides an industry leading cloud backup and recovery software platform called Asigra Cloud Backup.

BMS Group

BMS Group

BMS is an independent, employee-owned specialist insurance broking group. Broking solutions include Cyber and Technology.

Array Networks

Array Networks

Array Networks, the network functions platform company, develops purpose-built systems for hosting virtual networking and security functions with guaranteed performance.

SparkCognition

SparkCognition

SparkCognition’s AI-powered solutions enhance cybersecurity, identify and prevent equipment failures before they happen, and provide prescriptive intelligence for maintaining your most critical assets

Computer Network Defence (CND)

Computer Network Defence (CND)

Computer Network Defence (CND) are a Broad-Spectrum Cyber Security Consultancy and Recruitment Agency.

Charterhouse Müller UK

Charterhouse Müller UK

Charterhouse Müller UK are a leading service provider for end of life IT services including data erasure and secure IT asset disposal.

Alpine Cyber Solutions

Alpine Cyber Solutions

Alpine Cyber is a Managed IT Service Provider focused on cybersecurity and cloud services.

AnChain.AI

AnChain.AI

AnChain.AI's analytics platform proactively protects crypto assets by providing proprietary artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and threat intelligence on blockchain transactions.

Global Cyber Risk (GCR)

Global Cyber Risk (GCR)

Global Cyber Risk is a technology and advisory services firm that provides first tier cybersecurity services to both large corporations and small and mid-sized businesses.

3wSecurity

3wSecurity

3wSecurity provides visibility to your company’s internet facing systems throughout the security life cycle, allowing for a more thorough approach to vulnerability management.

World Informatix Cyber Security (WICS)

World Informatix Cyber Security (WICS)

World Informatix Cyber Security provides a range of cyber security services to protect valuable information assets to global business and governments.

Midwest Cyber Security Alliance (MCSA)

Midwest Cyber Security Alliance (MCSA)

Midwest Cyber Security Alliance is a nonprofit, nonpartisan collaboration of individuals, businesses, government entities, and professionals advocating for more effective cyber security solutions.

CV-Library

CV-Library

Start your job search with 216,931 live UK vacancies on award-winning CV-Library. Register your CV and find local jobs near you today!

RightCue Assurance

RightCue Assurance

RightCue Assurance identify opportunities for improvement in the Information Security for your organisation and work with you to reduce cyber risk.

MadWolf Technologies

MadWolf Technologies

MadWolf’s mission is to deliver enterprise-quality managed services and focused applications to organizations operating in the non-profit, association and international development sectors.