Emergency DRIP Law Rushed Through Parliament

The government has proposed that emergency legislation be passed before the summer recess of Parliament, to ensure that police and security services can continue to access phone and internet records, with internet and telephone providers forced to retain customer data.

The data to be retained does not include the content of the communications, but will include information such as call logs and numbers dialled. However, the law reinforces the ability of authorities to identify a target for additional monitoring – which could include listening to phone calls. This is with the aim of aiding investigations that rely on retrospectively accessing data for evidential purposes, whilst providing a clearer legal framework for companies in order to underpin their cooperation with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The new law will also provide for the requirements to apply to companies based abroad, whose internet and phone services are used in the UK. The powers would