Publication of Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (speech)
gov.uk
gov.uk
The home secretary revealed for the first time in her
statement that successive governments since 1994 have
issued secret directions to internet and phone companies
to hand over the communications data of British citizens
in bulk to the security services.
She said these secret “directions” had allowed the
security services to thwart a number of attacks in
Britain, including the plot to attack the London Stock
Exchange in 2010.
May said the use of these powers – which show that GCHQ
was also engaged in mass surveillance programmes on
British citizens using their communications data – under
the 1984 Telecommunications Act will be put on a more
explicit footing in the new legislation and be subject to
the same safeguards as other bulk powers.