The government have been kind enough to launch a consultation on the revisions and updates to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. Essentially they want to know what you think about their plans to spy on you. Specifically, they want to hear from the public on the newly-proposed Equipment Interference Code and an updated Interception of Communications Code of Practice. In a forward to the consultation, James Brokenshire, Minister of State for Immigration and Security, assures the public that:

“In order to continue to keep us safe, the Security and Intelligence Agencies need the full range of investigatory tools at their disposal. But the public needs to know that these powers are used appropriately and are subject to stringent oversight…

There are limits on what can be said in public about this work. But it is imperative that the Government is as open as it can be about these capabilities and how they are used. The public and Parliament needs to have confidence that there is a robust statutory framework for the use of such intrusive investigative powers and that there is a strong system of safeguards in place…

The abilities to read or listen to a suspect’s communications or to interfere with his or her computer equipment are among the most important, sensitive, and closely scrutinised powers available to the state..”

You can let Mr Brokenshire know what you think by taking part in the consultation here. Or just discuss it on Whatsapp or Snapchat with someone with a foreign sounding name…