14 June 2012

posted 14 Jun 2012 04:46 by ISC Admin

Following the publication of the Government's draft Communications Data Bill earlier today, the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, has issued the following statement:

“The Government has today published a draft Communications Data Bill which aims to update the current legislation that allows public bodies – including the intelligence and security Agencies and the police – to access information relating to communications data. The Bill will now be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of Parliament. Given the importance of communications data to the work undertaken by the intelligence Agencies, the ISC has begun its own investigation into this area. We will take evidence and examine the rationale behind the proposals and how rigorous the safeguards are to ensure the privacy of individuals.”