It has been revealed that the Home Office and the National Crime Agency have been trialling controversial surveillance powers to log and store information about online activity. The powers were enshrined in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, legislation which critics slammed as a so-called 'Snooper's Charter'. Privacy International's advocacy director, Edin Omanovic, echoed a similar sentiment and said: 'Make no mistake, as warned, the Investigatory Powers Act (2016) gives authorities across the UK some of the most far-reaching and draconian surveillance powers found anywhere in the world. 'When the IPA was being debated, Privacy International argued that the collection and retention of internet records was not necessary or proportionate. That's why we opposed the Snooper's Charter from the start and are calling on the Government to stop this bulk collection of people's internet records now.'

Source: The Nation March 12, 2021 21:01 UTC