"This measure allows law enforcement agencies to monitor journalists’ IT and communication equipment following approval by the Home Secretary and without judicial oversight…. Any legislation that allows government surveillance of journalists must be narrowly drawn and include guarantees that the confidentiality of journalists’ sources is maintained," Mijatovic was quoted as saying by the OSCE press service.
She added that the requirements of the draft law to collect information about the users' connection data and make it available to the country's law enforcers would in fact result in the disclosure of the reporters' sources.
In November 2015, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, then home secretary, introduced the Investigatory Powers Bill to the country’s parliament. The lawmakers approved the legislation, dubbed the "snoopers' charter" by its critics, in June.
The bill has been designed to give UK law enforcers sweeping powers. The legislation requires Internet providers to store their customers' browsing history for up to 12 months and grant access to law enforcement regardless of whether a user is under investigation or not. Police will also have the authority to hack into phones, laptops, tablets and computers.
