Academics at Edinburgh join open letter to Parliament criticising proposed Regulation of Internet communication data
Wed 16 July 2014
Prof Burkhard Schafer is one of a group of senior academics who have written an open letter to Parliament urging them not to vote for the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill ('DRIP'). The letter, written by 15 of the UK's most senior academic experts in technology law, warns that passing the emergency legislation will increase government access to communications data and content and is being unnecessarily rushed through Parliament.
'DRIP is far more than an administrative necessity; it is serious expansion of the British surveillance state. We urge the British Government not to fast track this legislation and instead apply full and proper parliamentary scrutiny to ensure Parliamentarians are not mislead as to what powers this Bill truly contains.'
The Bill has received some attention within parliament with a House of Lords vote to now take place. The academics' letter has received attention from the press with the Guardian reporting on the story last night. http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/15/academics-uk-data-law-surveillance-bill-rushed-parliament
The Open Letter submitted by the academics can be read here.
'DRIP is far more than an administrative necessity; it is serious expansion of the British surveillance state. We urge the British Government not to fast track this legislation and instead apply full and proper parliamentary scrutiny to ensure Parliamentarians are not mislead as to what powers this Bill truly contains.'
The Bill has received some attention within parliament with a House of Lords vote to now take place. The academics' letter has received attention from the press with the Guardian reporting on the story last night. http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/15/academics-uk-data-law-surveillance-bill-rushed-parliament
The Open Letter submitted by the academics can be read here.