MI5, MI6, and GCHQ will need “prior independent authorisation,” probably from a judge, before it can access communications data from telecom providers of people they are investigating after a “landmark” case at the High Court in London.
The UK civil rights campaign group, Liberty, launched a legal challenge against the powers used by the security services during criminal investigations.
Lord Justice Rabinder Singh and Justice David Holgate delivered a ruling on Friday after considering Liberty’s challenge to aspects of the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act.
Liberty lawyer Megan Goulding said: “This judgment is a major victory in the fight against mass surveillance. The court has agreed that it’s too easy for the security services to get their hands on our data. From now on, when investigating crime, MI5, MI6, and GCHQ will have to obtain independent authorisation before being able to access our communications data.”…