H.R.M. Queen Elizabeth II gives royal assent to Investigatory Powers Act; Snooper’s Charter becomes law

It’s official, the Investigatory Powers Act has received royal assent as of Tuesday afternoon and what has been billed as the most draconian mass surveillance law that has ever officially become law in a Western country. The Investigatory Powers Act, dubbed the “Snooper’s Charter” by British media, is nothing short of blatant, privacy-invading mass surveillance. Under the new law, UK companies will be forced to aid government agencies in breaking into suspects’ smartphones and computers. What’s worse, every Connection Service Provider in the UK now has to store 1 year of “internet connection records” and metadata that are to be available to the government at the drop of a hat. The same applies for mobile phone history.

The law was first proposed over a year ago and did not receive sufficient opposition from MPs. In fact, the only amendment that the politicians involved allowed to the Snooper’s Charter was to exempt MPs from being spied upon.

Investigatory Powers Act receives royal assent, becomes law immediately

Now that the IP Act has officially been enacted, according to Schedule 4 of the act, these are the government organizations that will have access to a year of your internet history, but not those of the MPs that voted for this draconian law:
– Metropolitan Police Service
– City of London Police
– Police forces maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996
– Police Service of Scotland
– Police Service of Northern Ireland
– British Transport Police
– Ministry of Defence Police
– Royal Navy Police
– Royal Military Police
– Royal Air Force Police
– Security Service
– Secret Intelligence Service
– GCHQ
– Ministry of Defence
– Department of Health
– Home Office
– Ministry of Justice
– National Crime Agency
– HM Revenue & Customs
– Department for Transport
– Department for Work and Pensions
– NHS trusts and foundation trusts in England that provide ambulance services
– Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service
– Competition and Markets Authority
– Criminal Cases Review Commission
– Department for Communities in Northern Ireland
– Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland
– Department of Justice in Northern Ireland
– Financial Conduct Authority
– Fire and rescue authorities under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
– Food Standards Agency
– Food Standards Scotland
– Gambling Commission
– Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
– Health and Safety Executive
– Independent Police Complaints Commissioner
– Information Commissioner
– NHS Business Services Authority
– Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust
– Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board
– Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Regional Business Services
Organisation
– Office of Communications
– Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
– Police Investigations and Review Commissioner
– Scottish Ambulance Service Board
– Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
– Serious Fraud Office
– Welsh Ambulance Services National Health Service Trust

Meanwhile, another draconian internet law has also passed in the UK, the Digital Economy Bill has recently passed through the House of Commons and is barreling on its way towards its own royal assent. Staying anonymous online in the UK is harder than ever. Check out Comparitech’s guide on staying anonymous online. Of course, a logless VPN is key.