The controversial Investigatory Powers Bill 2016 was given royal ascent by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday as a petition opposing the legislation garnered more than 130,000 signatures online. Heralded by home secretary Amber Rudd as ‘world-leading legislation’ that will provide ‘unprecedented transparency and substantial privacy protection’, the new laws will require internet service providers to maintain records of individual browsing histories for a period of 12 months. Select government and law enforcement agencies will have unprecedented levels of access to the stored data. Security services and police will also have enhanced powers to hack into computers and phones and to collect communications data in bulk.

Tackling terrorism

Ms Rudd commented this week: ‘The government is clear that, at a time of heightened security threat, it is essential our law enforcement and security and intelligence services have the power they need to keep people safe. The internet presents new opportunities for terrorists and we must ensure we have the capabilities to confront this challenge. But it is also right that these powers are subject to strict safeguards and rigorous oversight.’ While an expansive list of agencies will be able to access internet browsing records without a warrant, authorities will still need to secure judicial approval before hacking personal devices like phones or PCs. New criminal offences have been created to punish those who misuse the new regulatory powers.

‘Security nightmares’ for ISPs

The backlash against the Investigatory Powers Bill has been vehement, if somewhat muted by the distraction of Brexit. Journalists have called new powers which will in some circumstances allow the government to identify sources by hacking journalists’ communication records as ‘the death of investigatory journalism in the UK.’ Meanwhile, others have raised concerned that the databases used to store citizens’ browsing data will provide an all-too-tempting target for hackers, perhaps creating more security nightmares than they solve. Sir Tim Berners-Lee, credited as the inventor of the world wide web, told the BBC that the new bill ‘has no place in modern democracy.’ He said: ‘The bulk collection of everyone’s internet browsing data is disproportionate, creates a security nightmare for the ISPs that must store the data – and runs roughshod over our right to privacy. Meanwhile, the bulk hacking powers in the Bill risks making the internet less safe for everyone.’

Sources: The Guardian; BBC