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.” |