UK government told ‘you’re not above the law’ as Liberty takes on Snoopers’ Charter

The challenge has been funded by donations from members of the public, who gave more than £50,000.

This hearing will focus on the first part of Liberty’s case against the act – its challenge to government powers to order private companies to store everybody’s communications data and internet history so that state agencies can access it. Liberty argues that indiscriminately retaining every person’s data in this way violates the UK public’s right to privacy.

The hearing will take place today and tomorrow at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Martha Spurrier, director of Liberty, said: “There’s no doubt police and security agencies need tools to tackle serious crime in the digital age – that’s why Liberty spent years campaigning for new surveillance legislation to keep us safe, protect our rights and safeguard our personal data.

“Instead we got the Investigatory Powers Act, the most invasive surveillance regime of any democracy in the world. It introduced staggering state spying powers that give the government access to everybody’s web histories, email, text and phone records. It’s made us less safe and less free – undermining our privacy, free press, free speech, protest rights, protections for journalists’ sources and whistleblowers and legal and patient confidentiality.

“Our message to the government is straightforward – you’re not above the law. Stop ignoring the courts, stop knowingly violating people’s rights and get on with building a targeted surveillance system that protects our safety, our cybersecurity and our rights.”