Britain\u2019s controversial \u2018snooper\u2019s charter\u2019 has been delivered a blow from the EU with its highest court ruling that the government\u2019s \u201cindiscriminate retention\u201d of emails is illegal.<\/p>\n
The ruling could trigger challenges against the UK\u2019s new Investigatory Powers Act, passed into law in November, which allows for the sweeping collection and storage of people\u2019s emails, text messages and internet data.<\/p>\n
According to a long-awaited decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg, only targeted interception of traffic and location data in order to combat serious crime is justified.<\/p>\n
The finding came in response to a legal challenge initially brought by the Brexit secretary, David Davis, before he got the role of helping Britain leave the bloc, and Tom Watson, Labour\u2019s deputy leader.<\/p>\n
They are concerned over the legality of cyber-spies at GCHQ bulk intercepting call records and online messages.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis ruling shows it is counter-productive to push new laws through parliament without proper scrutiny,\u201d<\/em> Watson told the Independent.<\/p>\n \u201cAt a time when we face a real and ever-present terrorist threat, the security forces may require access to personal information none of us would normally hand over.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s absolutely vital that proper safeguards are put in place to ensure this power is now abused, as it has been in the recent past.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMost of us can accept that our privacy may occasionally be compromised in the interests of keeping us safe, but no one would consent to giving the police or the government the power to arbitrarily seize our phone records or emails as they see fit.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s for judges, not ministers, to oversee these powers. I\u2019m pleased the court has upheld the earlier decision of the UK courts,\u201d<\/em> Watson told the paper.<\/p>\n