UK Secret Service Needs More Surveillance to Fight Terrorism - MI5 Head

The MI5 chief underscored that UK intelligence agencies have to adapt themselves to the changing technological circumstances to be able to counter terrorism efficiently.

LONDON (Sputnik) – British intelligence agencies need expanded powers in light of the growing threat of terrorism and the changing nature of the technology used by terrorists, the head of the MI5 security service said Thursday.

"Because of that threat we face and the way that terrorists operate… it is necessary that if we are to find and stop the people who mean us harm, MI5 and others need to be able to navigate the Internet to find terrorist communication," Andrew Parker told the BBC broadcaster.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron proposed a series of counter-terrorism measures soon after his Conservative Party’s victory in the general elections in May. The measures include a once-defeated contentious surveillance bill, nicknamed the Snoopers’ Charter, which requires telecommunication providers to retain information on their clients' communications for 12 months and to make it available to the authorities upon request.

The proposed draft Investigatory Powers Bill, authorizing the surveillance of individuals' web history, social media interactions and bolstering the bulk collection of communications, is expected to be presented to the British Parliament this season. It is anticipated that the new bill will revive the so-called Snoopers’ Charter in one form or another.

MI5 Director General Parker previously called for new surveillance powers in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack in the French capital of Paris, earlier this year.