FIPR Says Access To UK Communications Data Should Require Judicial Approval

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

22 August 2003

In a recently released statement, the Foundation for Information Policy Research (FIPR) has recommended that access to the personal communications data of UK citizens should only be granted following judicial authorisation.

The Foundation was responding to a government consultation on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), the results of which are expected in the next few months.

Privacy advocates have warned that in the United Kingdom, an unprecedented number of agencies and organisations are already permitted access to personal communications data, including subscriber details, billing data, e-mail logs, and records of the locations from which mobile phone calls are made. However, proposed new laws, both at UK and European level may increase this number still further.

According to the FIPR, other than the security services, which should still be obliged to secure judicial authorisation for high level surveillance such as the interception of communications:

'Additional agencies should only be provided with access to traffic and usage data after presenting the strongest case. The emergency services and specialised police agencies are the only bodies that appear to have such a case.'

The group also recommended that individuals who are the subject of access requests should be informed of the situation, in order to allow them to lodge a complaint if an abuse has taken place with regard to their personal information.

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