Mass surveillance

Security services' powers to be extended in wide-ranging surveillance bill

The government is to introduce an investigatory powers bill that is far more wide-ranging than expected, including an extension of the powers of the security services in response to the surveillance disclosures by whistleblower Edward Snowden.The legislation to be introduced in this session of parliament will include not only the expected snooper’s charter, enabling the tracking of everyone’s web and social media use, but also moves to strengthen the security services’ warranted powers for the bulk interception of the content of communications.