UK government quietly rewrites hacking laws to give GCHQ immunity

[securitybreach]

The UK government has quietly passed new legislation that exempts GCHQ, police, and other intelligence officers from prosecution for hacking into computers and mobile phones.

 

While major or controversial legislative changes usually go through normal parliamentary process (i.e. democratic debate) before being passed into law, in this case an amendment to the Computer Misuse Act was snuck in under the radar as secondary legislation. According to Privacy International, "It appears no regulators, commissioners responsible for overseeing the intelligence agencies, the Information Commissioner's Office, industry, NGOs or the public were notified or consulted about the proposed legislative changes... There was no public debate."

 

Privacy International also suggests that the change to the law was in direct response to a complaint that it filed last year. In May 2014, Privacy International and seven communications providers filed a complaint with the UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), asserting that GCHQ's hacking activities were unlawful under the Computer Misuse Act..........

http://arstechnica.c...-gchq-immunity/

[ebrke]

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you. Never thought such a thing could happen. /s

 

Glad I'm as old as I am. People like you, Josh, have a lot more of this carp to live through.

Edited May 17, 2015 by ebrke

[securitybreach]

Right....

[Guest LilBambi]

I am not going to get started ... just can't today ...

[atiustira]

The UK government has quietly passed new legislation that exempts GCHQ, police, and other intelligence officers from prosecution for hacking into computers and mobile phones.

Thanks for posting that SB.

[abarbarian]

All babies in the UK are to have microchips implanted at birth soon so you can kiss freedom goodbye.

 

Long live the State God bless Cameron the Benign dictator. :worthy: :worthy:

[Guest LilBambi]

All babies in the UK are to have microchips implanted at birth soon so you can kiss freedom goodbye.

 

Long live the State God bless Cameron the Benign dictator. :worthy: :worthy:

 

Eeeek!

[Capt.Crow]

They are well late fessin up Read any of Chapman Pincers books.. In the sum total of things ,none of this amounts to any more than a puff of dust in the wind. No matter what goes down we will still be there with a grin at the other end.