UK Forced To Backtrack on Internet ‘snooping’

 

Highly controversial plans to allow the police and security services full access to everyone’s internet browsing history have been abandoned by ministers in what is being presented as a dramatic climb-down over online surveillance.

Amid fears in government that it would be unable to force new laws through parliament because of concerns over civil liberties, the Home Office said it had dropped several contentious proposals from the investigatory powers bill, which will be published in draft form on Wednesday.

Ministers announced in the Queen’s speech in May that the bill would aim “to maintain the ability of intelligence agencies and law enforcement to target online communications of terrorists, paedophiles and other serious criminals”. Downing Street said at the time that it would provide the authorities “with the tools to keep you and your family safe”.

But in an unexpected move that will be seen as a blow to home secretary Theresa May, government sources said they had “dropped completely” key elements of their original 2012 proposals, dubbed the “snooper’s charter” and blocked during the coalition by Nick Clegg.

In a statement, senior sources said that rather than increasing intrusive surveillance, the bill would bar police and security services from accessing people’s browsing histories – a power demanded by the security services – and that “any access to internet connection records will be strictly limited and targeted”.

They also revealed that ministers had ruled out plans to restrict or ban companies from encrypting material on the Internet that had alarmed privacy and technology campaigners. In what they said was a further change, ministers would not, as they had previously suggested, demand that UK communication service providers (CSPs) should capture and store internet traffic from companies based in the United States.

A government source said: “We’re absolutely clear that key parts of the original plans from 2012 will be dropped from the new bill. We have consulted widely … we are coming forward with a new approach.
“We know these powers are needed as technology changes and terrorists and criminals use ever more sophisticated ways to communicate. But we need to give people the reassurance that not only are they needed, but that they are only ever used in a necessary, proportionate and accountable way. That is what this bill is all about.”

The move, which Downing Street insisted had been agreed between the prime minister and home secretary following extensive consultation, was welcomed as a significant change by former Tory leadership contender and leading campaigner for civil liberties David Davis.
“This is a welcome recognition that some of the previous proposals were both spectacularly impractical and to a large extent ignored the rights of individual citizens,” he said.
“Taken at face value, this new approach by the government suggests it has learned from the important and balanced reports by David Anderson and to a lesser extent the intelligence and security committee.”

However Shami Chakrabarti, director of civil rights group Liberty, claimed that the self-proclaimed climb-down was mere spin. She suggested the government had ignored the most important safeguard, for any interception to take place only after judicial authorisation had been given.
 “It’s a traditional Home Office dance first to ask for the most outrageous, even impractical, powers, so that the smallest so-called ‘concessions’ seem more reasonable,” she said. “The frantic spinning distracts from the sleight of hand. Where is the judicial sign-off before our private communications can be collected, hacked and tapped? Where is the move back to targeted surveillance and away from the blanket collection of our private data?”
Senior Tories said ministers – bruised by last week’s defeat in the House of Lords over tax credits – feared the plans would face fierce and prolonged opposition in the Lords if the powers were seen to be too draconian. Some Tory MPs would also have rebelled, putting the government’s slim majority in danger in the Commons.

Dr Simon Moores, an IT consultant who was a critic of the previous government’s attempts to increase interception powers, gave a cautious welcome. “There was a fear that the government, in its pursuit of terrorism, might remove those freedoms and principles that people associate with the internet,” Moores explained.
 “We all thought they were going to clamp down and introduce the most restrictive environment. But the government has said ‘we’re not going to do this; we’re not going to store your web browsing history. In fact we’re going to offer a level of oversight.’

After what we’ve heard recently from the government surrounding encryption, web history, browsing and storing of data, this smacks of common sense. In this case, the threatened regulatory powers around encryption and monitoring of traffic across international networks – the forte of GCHQ – have evaporated. It’s a very positive step.
“I’m very, very encouraged to see the mention of judicial oversight in terms of being able to restrict the powers given to the intelligence agencies. This smacks of a post-Snowden era. But the final judgment has to be about what that level of oversight this will be. It is somewhat woolly.”

Guardian:http://http://bit.ly/1MbXpw1

U.S. CISA Cybersecurity Bill Passes Senate: http://ow.ly/U85r3

 

 

« EU Will Fund Car, Hospital & Airport IT Security
Stolen Credit Card Details Cost £1 Online »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

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.

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.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

Bromium

Bromium

Bromium deliver a new technology called micro-virtualization to address the enterprise security problem and provide protection for end users against advanced malware.

RSA Insurance Group

RSA Insurance Group

RSA is one of the world’s leading multinational quoted insurance groups. Commercial services include cyber risk insurance.

UZCERT

UZCERT

UZCERT is the national Computer Emergency Response Team for Uzbekistan.

CSIRT GOV - Poland

CSIRT GOV - Poland

Computer Security Incident Response Team CSIRT GOV, run by the Head of the Internal Security Agency, acts as the national CSIRT responsible for coordinating the response to computer incidents.

ISMS.online

ISMS.online

ISMS.online is a cloud software solution for fast & cost-effective implementation of an information security management system and achieve compliance with ISO 27001 and other standards.

BELAC

BELAC

BELAC is the national accreditation body for Belgium.

Computer Network Defence (CND)

Computer Network Defence (CND)

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

Sixgill

Sixgill

Sixgill, an IoT sensor platform company, builds the universal data service and smart process automation software allowing any organization to effectively govern its IoE assets.

Kleiner Perkins

Kleiner Perkins

For five decades, Kleiner Perkins has made history by partnering with some of the most ingenious and forward-thinking founders in technology and life sciences.

GELLIFY

GELLIFY

GELLIFY is the first innovation platform dedicated to the high-tech B2B market, supporting start-ups and companies.

Cyber Security Operations Consulting (CyberSecOp)

Cyber Security Operations Consulting (CyberSecOp)

CyberSecOp is an ISO 27001 Certified Organization which provides cyber security operations services and risk management consulting.

Axis Security

Axis Security

Axis Security technologies transform open networks and vulnerable applications into fully protected resources that the business can trust.

BlackDice Cyber

BlackDice Cyber

Threat Intelligence is only part of the solution. Our solution matches threats to vulnerabilities and automatically takes remedial action against compromised apps, devices and websites.

Datrix

Datrix

Datrix is a leading Smart Infrastructure and Cyber Security solutions provider. We deliver critical networking, communications and cyber security solutions to public and private sector organisations.

Custodia Continuity

Custodia Continuity

Custodia Continuity manage your Security, Backup, Continuity and Compliance. You get on with your business.

StealthMole

StealthMole

StealthMole is a deep and dark web threat intelligence company that delivers a cloud-based, unified platform for digital investigation, risk assessment, and threat monitoring.