A new law setting out the powers available to police and intelligence agencies, like MI5, to do their work received Royal Assent today (Tuesday 29 November 2016).
The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 brings together and updates existing laws which grant MI5 and its partners, GCHQ, MI6 and the police, the powers they need in a digital age to disrupt terrorist attacks and damaging espionage.
The Act builds on the recommendations of three independent reviews and underwent an extensive period of scrutiny by Parliament. It introduces new safeguards changing the way investigative powers are authorised and overseen to help protect privacy and security.
Plans for implementing the provisions of the Act are being developed by the Home Office and will be set out in due course.
For more information, please see www.gov.uk.
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