Investigatory Powers Bill should be put on hold following Brexit fall out

Digital rights campaigners, the Open Rights Group have called on the Government to stop the progression of the Investigatory Powers Bill (IP Bill) through Parliament. The Bill will receive its second reading in the House of Lords this afternoon.

Executive Director, Jim Killock said:
“With the current political crisis, we cannot expect that such an important Bill, with far-reaching consequences, will receive the scrutiny it needs.

Until this crisis is resolved, and a new Prime Minister is in place, the IP Bill should be put on hold. The UK cannot legislate on matters of national security until its future is clear.”

The Investigatory Powers Bill is a proposed new surveillance law that will give unprecedented powers to the security services, police and government departments. It will replace other surveillance laws, including parts of the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (DRIPA) and parts of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA). 

The powers included in the Bill will allow the bulk collection of communications data, the analysis of databases held by private and public companies, mass hacking of devices and networks and the collection of everyone’s web browsing history. There is more information about the Bill here. 

CONTACT
For more information, contact pam@openrightsgroup.org