Regulatory Developments

Thanks to Ibrahim Hasan for spotting that the Home Office’s review of counter-terrorism and security powers includes a section on the acquisition of Communications Data by local authorities. Pages 25 to 29 make two recommendations: first that a magistrate must approve any use by local authorities of section 22 notices under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), and second that other powers to obtain communications data should be “streamlined” to ensure that, as far as possible, RIPA notices are the only method used.

When implemented, these changes should make it simpler for communications service providers, since all requests from local authorities should come through the same, well-known, route.

Filed under:
Cybercrime, Incident Response by Andrew Cormack