GCHQ legally allowed to intercept social media

Posted By: James

Wednesday 18th June 2014

The government has revealed that GCHQ can snoop on British citizens' use of Facebook and Google without an individual warrant, due to the fact the firms are based overseas. The policy was revealed as part of an ongoing legal battle with campaign group Privacy International. Eric King, deputy director of Privacy International, said: “Intelligence agencies cannot be considered accountable to Parliament and to the public they serve when their actions are obfuscated through secret interpretations of byzantine laws.” Writing in the Telegraph, Matt Warman says the revelation should prompt a parliamentary debate, and suggests that “renewed legislation” is now essential.

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