GCHQ spooks in the dock over UK government bulk data hacking
British intelligence services, which authorized the bulk hacking of phones and computers, are at the center of a court battle taking place on Thursday.
A challenge to the wide use of non-specific warrants by Britain’s version of the NSA – the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) – is being brought by campaign group Privacy International (PI).
The group has vowed to fight the secretive agency, which works with MI5 and MI6, over “bulk surveillance.”
It is also challenging the primacy of the existing system – an intelligence tribunal that operates partly in secret – over civil courts.
Originally, a claim by PI was brought to the investigatory powers tribunal (IPT) as a result of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden exposing the extent of surveillance carried out by US and UK authorities.
PI argues the government is “choosing to take advantage of security holes” which weaken security for later hacks.
IPT hearings can be held behind closed doors over national security fears as it hears complaints about government surveillance.
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