Theresa May has already received a warning from big Internet technology companies, including Apple, Google, Facebook and Twitter that proposals to allow police and security agencies the authority to access confidential data will compromise customer's right to anonymity and weaken encryption services.
Home Secretary Theresa May will be giving evidence to draft Investigatory Powers Bill committee from 16:15. https://t.co/SGZ3nSh5T0 #IPBill
— Open Rights Group (@OpenRightsGroup) January 13, 2016
The updated bill would also force Internet service providers to store the browsing history of every website you have visited for a year in order to bulk collect swathes of communications data, whilst keeping it.
— Richard Taylor (@RTaylorUK) January 11, 2016
Unbelievable. How can she say that with a straight face? #snooperscharter https://t.co/8pbpZEMsJy
— Andrew Bower (@andybower) January 11, 2016
If passed, the law would allow British authorities to look at every text message, every email, every website visited — without needing a warrant.
The demands for access to encryption services has led to concerns from technology firms, including Apple which states that if companies are forced by the government to provide encrypted data, then it would mean that the "key left under the doormat would not just be there for the good guys".
"The bad guys would find it too," said Apple.
Those "bad guys", with links to Daesh, also known as Islamic State, have recently updated their guidelines for would-be jihadists in a new booklet, which includes advice for slipping beneath the radar online.
UK surveillance bill could bring 'very dire consequences', warns Apple chief https://t.co/Nr5Dzo5ELc pic.twitter.com/9r5qaVW1Jf
— PrivacyInternational (@privacyint) November 10, 2015
The disturbing new guidebook has been translated from Arabic into English and offers advice on how to virtually evade the security agencies on the Internet — and remain inconspicuous in public.
Sinister advice in the handbook includes a list of encrypted software that can be used to disguise the content of emails and mobile phone conversations in a direct attempt to avoid detection online.
However, the home secretary hopes the new surveillance bill will force Internet and mobile phone companies to allow authorities access to the encrypted data, to keep tabs on potential terrorists.
The 62-page "safety and security guidelines for lone wolf mujahedeen and small cells" has been published as a resource for any potential "lone wolf" terrorists; but could almost serve as a dummy's guide to becoming a jihadi.
The booklet offers basic advice like leaving a prayer mat behind, carrying enough cash and making sure all the fake documents have the same name on it.
"A lot of brothers have been caught out because of that," the guidebook says.
According to Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and the UK's security services, seven terrorist plots were foiled in Britain in 2015.
