Internet Use Snooping Power To Be Law

Internet Use Snooping Power To Be Law.

Tomorrow sees the publication of the Investigatory Powers Bill. The new bill will give the power to 38 organisations to be able to ‘snoop’ on you.

The organisations include such groups as , the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Police, HMRC and financial regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulatory Authority.

12 Month Record

Your Internet service provider (ISP) will be required to keep records for 12 months on your Internet activity. Whilst this will not include every single webpage that you visit it will include the websites that you visit and also allow powers to access your social media activity such as Facebook, Twitter and possibly LinkedIn.

Mobile Apps

In addition, your use of 'apps' such as those applications on mobile telephones and gaming platforms will also be monitored.

Of course, we have not seen the draft bill yet so we do not know exactly what powers will be proposed.

Can "Big Brother" simply access my information?

The answer is no any organisation that wishes to access your information must apply for a warrant via the Magistrates Court.

Snoopers Charter

Many who are against the Bill have called it a "snoopers charter" and suggest it is an infringement of our privacy. Our view is simple, if you are not breaking the law and you are not visiting websites that are against the public good or security then clearly you will not fall under the radar of any of the organisations that will be granted the power to access your Internet activity. We suggest it is likely to be the police and security services that make the most use of these new powers although we are sure that there will be periods where social services, the taxman or financial regulators wish to investigate elements of fraud and market abuse.

That said, as with any organisation there are always people who abuse the system and the policing of these investigatory powers is crucial.