New UK Surveillance Bill Attack on Fundamental Rights - Advocacy Group

Britain’s new draft bill giving new surveillance powers to security and intelligence agencies is a severe violation of fundamental human rights, co-director of privacy advocacy group Code Red, Simon Davies, told Sputnik on Thursday.

MOSCOW, November 5 (Sputnik) — UK Home Secretary Theresa May introduced the Investigatory Powers Bill to the country's parliament on Wednesday. The bill requires domestic communications companies to retain customer web browsing history for 12 months and provides police and intelligence services with access to browsing history and personal communication.

“This bill is an appalling attack on fundamental rights. It is invasive, disproportionate and the protections within it are largely illusory,” Davies said.

He added that the bill leaves journalists and lawyers completely unprotected amid unlimited activities of the British security services.

"The UK Home Secretary is clearly incapable of understanding the concepts of 'necessary' and 'proportionate," Davies said.

The administration of UK Prime Minister David Cameron has long been attempting to expand surveillance in the country, citing security concerns.