State Surveillance

In recent years the security services and police have invaded privacy with increasing frequency as the technology allowing them to do so has become more advanced, and as those involved in criminal behaviour or terrorism use increasingly sophisticated techniques of communication. The documents leaked by the whistle-blower Edward Snowden concerning the extent of surveillance carried out by GCHQ revealed a massive extension of the state capacity to gather information about the online activities of individuals. The justification given for such an extension is primarily the need to address new forms of electronic communications used by criminals, especially terrorists, to organize their operations. However, the scale of GCHQ’s surveillance activities appears to go far beyond this justification, and, despite official reassurances, there is now a widespread concern that current surveillance powers, particularly those relating to the interception of communications, are too broad and institutions conducting surveillance lack accountability.