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posted by cmn32480 on Monday May 18 2015, @04:14PM   Printer-friendly
from the get-out-your-tinfoil-hat dept.

Ars Technica reports:

The UK government has quietly passed new legislation that exempts GCHQ, police, and other intelligence officers from prosecution for hacking into computers and mobile phones.

While major or controversial legislative changes usually go through normal parliamentary process (i.e. democratic debate) before being passed into law, in this case an amendment to the Computer Misuse Act was snuck in under the radar as secondary legislation. According to Privacy International, "It appears no regulators, commissioners responsible for overseeing the intelligence agencies, the Information Commissioner's Office, industry, NGOs or the public were notified or consulted about the proposed legislative changes... There was no public debate."

 
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  • (Score: 2) by lentilla on Monday May 18 2015, @09:08PM

    by lentilla (1770) on Monday May 18 2015, @09:08PM (#184817)

    the police and others do sometimes need this power in order to carry out their duties

    I'm not so sure they do. I'm trying to think up an instance where they might need the legal authority to unlawfully access a device. Yes, I realise that statement is tautological.

    Let's try an example. The Bad Guy has been caught but he's bragging that he has planted a bomb somewhere. The police are pretty certain the location is on his computer. Should they "break in" to his computer to find the bomb's location? Without a doubt. However, there is clearly probable cause. There is no need to for an additional law.

    Is anyone able to come up with a reasonable example where this new law is needed? I can only see it facilitates fishing expeditions, and whilst fishing expeditions may be eminently convenient they lead to too much abuse to be lawful.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Anal Pumpernickel on Monday May 18 2015, @10:38PM

    by Anal Pumpernickel (776) on Monday May 18 2015, @10:38PM (#184859)

    Is anyone able to come up with a reasonable example where this new law is needed?

    No, because the minute you start sacrificing freedom for security, real or not, you've already lost.