UK Online Surveillance Laws - Theresa May New Statement

It is a known fact that our internet history and usage is monitored and checked, but how much does this breach our human rights and our right to search in privacy?

The United Kingdom is one of the world’s foremost surveillance states, allowing its police and intelligence agencies to spy on its own people to a degree that is unprecedented for a democracy. The UN’s privacy chief has called the situation "worse than scary." Edward Snowden says it’s simply "the most extreme surveillance in the history of western democracy."

The Investigatory bill will allow the Government's surveillance program, to gather and collate data from around the world and store it in a government database that stores the web history of every citizen in the country. Secret Service spies will also have the power to hack individuals, internet infrastructure, private networks, secure company networks and even whole areas if the Government gives them the green light.

The British government will keep a record of every website every citizen visits for up to a year, whilst also gathering information from their phone. The Government will pay network providers to store this data and ensure it is readily available for surveillance agents and police officers to use as an investigatory intelligence gathering tool. Access will be at the total discretion of the officers and in effect will not require any form of 'warrant' or permission from the user.

Theresa May has called on internet companies to do more to tackle the spread of extremist material in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack as a former cabinet minister said online giants must “face up to their responsibilities”. The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom “cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are” as she set out tough measures to tackle terrorism in response to the attack. She said that there must now be greater regulation of the internet and that existing online “safe spaces” that allow terrorism to “breed” must be eradicated.

In light of recent terror attacks within the United Kingdom, heightened internet security does seem a necessary step in counter terrorism. But how far does it infringe on the average, law abiding, internet user?