Britain�s Patriot Act type snooping laws may be illegal
Sweeping powers enabling law-enforcement and intelligence agencies to demand the communications records of British telephone and internet users may be illegal, according to legal advice obtained by the Information Commissioner. The Commissioner warned the Home Office that the new powers may breach human rights law because website, email or phone logs available strictly for national security investigations can be accessed by police or intelligence officers for more minor cases such as public health and tax collection. Assistant Commissioner David Smith said that, �The upshot of it all is someone who uses Ripa powers to get access to retained data may be breaching human rights law." He added: "There is agreement generally that the Home Office was in a hurry. They wanted to respond to the events of September 11 and they were under pressure, but they could have thought these issues through more."Snooping laws may be illegal Guardian, July 31, 2002
