Emergency internet surveillance bill rushed through parliament

An emergency law granting police and intelligence services the power to continue accessing private individuals’ phone and internet records is being rushed through parliament.

The new bill comes in the wake of the ruling against the so-called “Snooper’s Charter” by the European Court of Justice for interfering with people’s fundamental right to privacy.

The Data Retention and Investigative Powers Bill has cross-party support, but some MPs and commentators are dismayed about how such an important bill is being rushed through parliament without sufficient discussion and scrutiny.

Labour MP Tom Watson warns that the Bill “will override the views of judges who have seen how the mass collection of your data breaches the human rights of you and your family.”

Following the American model and establishing a Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board under the Bill also concerned privacy advocates after the lack of oversight such a board has offered in the recent NSA dragnet spying revelations.

However, Prime Minister David Cameron maintains that the Bill is “vital to security” and “essential to fight the threat from criminals and terrorists targeting the UK”.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also claims that the Bill “will not be used as an excuse for more powers, or for a ‘Snooper’s Charter'” but that it is required for public safety

A special cabinet meeting is being held on Thursday to agree the planned laws, which will include a “sunset clause” to lapse in 2016, when the next government will be forced to revisit the law.