Covert surveillance activities need independent oversight, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 27th, 2015 in evidence, investigatory powers, media, news, telecommunications by sally

‘The use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) for covert surveillance should be overseen by independent judges to ensure the appropriate legislation is being used, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rf July 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Surveillance of MPs’ data challenged – BBC News

‘Three politicians will challenge the lawfulness of the intelligence services’ bulk interception of electronic data at a hearing later.’

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BBC News, 23rd July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Sun launches human rights legal challenge against Metropolitan Police over phone records search – The Independent

‘A legal challenge against the Metropolitan Police by The Sun newspaper – where three reporters say their human rights were breached during the ‘plebgate’ affair – has started at the High Court.’

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The Independent, 20th July 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Phone hacking: Andy Coulson to pay £150,000 legal costs – BBC News

Posted July 23rd, 2015 in costs, interception, media, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has been ordered to pay £150,000 prosecution costs after his 2014 conviction for phone hacking.’
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BBC News, 22nd July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met police to face tribunal over decision to access Plebgate phone records – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police is being taken to court in a landmark case over its decision to secretly obtain journalists’ phone records in an attempt to identify the mole behind the Plebgate saga involving the then cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell.’

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The Guardian, 14th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Privacy watchdog to investigate whether charities trading cold-calling ‘generous lists’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 8th, 2015 in charities, data protection, news, privacy, regulations, telecommunications by sally

‘Charities sharing personal data without proper consent could be breaking the law, warns Information Commissioner.’

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Daily Telegraph, 7th July 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

News of World features editor sentenced over hacking – BBC News

‘Ex-News of the World features editor Jules Stenson has been given a four-month suspended jail sentence for his part in the phone-hacking scandal.’

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BBC News, 6th July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

EE fined £1m by Ofcom for poor complaints handling – BBC News

Posted July 3rd, 2015 in complaints, consumer protection, fines, news, telecommunications by sally

‘EE, the UK’s largest mobile phone operator, has been fined £1m by the regulator Ofcom for breaching rules on handling customer complaints.’

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BBC News, 3rd July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

FCA to consult on issue of unsolicited marketing in consumer credit market this summer – OUT-LAW.com

‘The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is to consult on the issue of unsolicited marketing by consumer credit firms this summer, according to an answer given in the UK parliament.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st July 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Prison staff shortages contribute to suicides, report says – BBC News

‘Understaffing in prisons in England and Wales could be a factor in suicides among inmates, a review has concluded.’

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BBC News, 1st July 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tribunal rejects request for correspondence between solicitor and planning officers – Local Government Lawyer

‘The First-Tier Tribunal has ruled that a district council was entitled to refuse to disclose correspondence passing between one of its solicitors and various members of its planning department.’
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Local Government Lawyer, 30th June 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tom Crone: News of the World lawyer faces investigation by Bar – The Independent

‘Tom Crone, the lawyer responsible for the legal affairs of the News of the World during the height of the phone-hacking scandal, is being investigated by the barristers’ regulator.’

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The Independent, 28th June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Independent reviewer recommends redraft of UK surveillance laws – OUT-LAW.com

‘Existing UK surveillance laws should be scrapped and replaced by a “comprehensive and comprehensible new law…drafted from scratch”, the barrister appointed to review UK terrorism legislation has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th June 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

What to look out for in Britain’s new surveillance bill – The Guardian

‘The government intends wholesale reform, but will it perpetuate a dark history of invasion of privacy or follow the US example, and end invasive surveillance?’

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The Guardian, 5th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal challenge against Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act reaches High Court – OUT-LAW.com

‘A legal challenge fronted by two UK MPs against communications surveillance laws passed last year has reached the High Court.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 4th June 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Emergency surveillance law faces legal challenge by MPs – BBC News

‘The High Court is to hear a legal challenge to the government’s emergency surveillance law brought by two MPs.’

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BBC News, 4th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gulati v MGN Ltd – WLR Daily

Gulati v MGN Ltd [2015] EWHC 1482 (Ch); [2015] WLR (D) 232

‘Damages for infringement of privacy rights should compensate not merely for distress but also, if appropriate, for a loss of privacy or autonomy arising out of the infringement as such, which might include, if appropriate, a sum to compensate for damage to dignity or standing so far as that was meaningful and not already compensated under the distress element.’

WLR Daily, 21st May 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

The police ask to look at our private messages once every 120 seconds – The Independent

‘Police officers in the UK ask for permission to monitor use of emails, text messages and internet searches once every two minutes, a new report has disclosed.’

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The Independent, 1st June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK police requests to access phone calls or emails are granted 93% of the time – The Guardian

‘Ministers are facing calls to curb the scale of police access to private phone and email records, after a report by privacy campaigners found officers were making a request every two minutes and getting access in 93% of cases.’

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The Guardian, 1st June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Queen’s Speech: New online data terror powers proposed – BBC News

‘Planned new laws to give police and spies stronger powers to “target the online communications” of terrorist suspects are in the Queen’s Speech.’

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BBC News, 27th May 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk