{"id":247787,"date":"2016-06-04T12:49:03","date_gmt":"2016-06-04T12:49:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/mass-surveillance-bill-not-incompatible-with-privacy-rights-mps\/"},"modified":"2016-06-04T15:37:52","modified_gmt":"2016-06-04T15:37:52","slug":"mass-surveillance-bill-not-incompatible-with-privacy-rights-mps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/latest-news\/mass-surveillance-bill-not-incompatible-with-privacy-rights-mps\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass surveillance bill \u2018not incompatible\u2019 with privacy rights – MPs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bulk data collection sanctioned under Home Secretary Theresa May\u2019s Investigatory Powers Bill is not \u201cinherently incompatible\u201d with privacy rights, says a committee of MPs and peers.<\/p>\n

\n

In a report<\/a>\u00a0on the proposed surveillance laws, the Human Rights Committee said the powers codified in the bill \u201care capable of being justified if they have a sufficiently clear legal basis.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Read more<\/p>\n


\n \"\u00a9
\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Though the committee generally praised the bill, which has undergone a series of transformations after it was heavily criticized by three separate parliamentary committees, it noted that additional protections for MPs\u2019 communications and journalists\u2019 sources were needed to ensure the government did not abuse its powers.
<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bill provides a clear and transparent basis for powers already in use by the security and intelligence services, but there need to be further safeguards,\u201d<\/em> committee chairwoman Harriet Harman said.
<\/p>\n

\u201cProtection for MP communications from unjustified interference is vital, as it is for confidential communications between lawyers and clients, and for journalists\u2019 sources, the bill must provide tougher safeguards to ensure that the government cannot abuse its powers to undermine Parliament\u2019s ability to hold the government to account.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Welcoming the committee\u2019s report, a Home Office spokesperson said, \u201cThe government has always been clear, we will listen to the constructive views of politicians from all sides of the House to ensure the passage of this important bill.<\/em>
<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have encouraged rigorous scrutiny of the bill, which responds to three independent reports all of which recognized that new legislation in this area is absolutely essential.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Last week, May made a number of concessions, including committing to an independent review of the operational case for powers that allow bulk personal data collection and hacking as well as protection from surveillance for legitimate trade union activities.<\/p>\n

Labour, however, intends to push for further changes in several key areas, including using internet connection records only in serious crime cases, toughening rules on the judicial authorization of intercept warrants, and increased protections for legal and journalistic confidentiality.<\/p>\n