Hacking of computers, smartphones and networks in the United Kingdom or abroad by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is , the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal ( ) ruled. So, the UK is giving clean chit to its intelligence agency to spy on its people as well as people living abroad. Now, How is that okay? The British spying nerve center GCHQ has won a major court case in defense of the agency's persistent hacking programs. After revelations by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden about the extent of spying by the US and the UK, Privacy International and seven Internet Service Providers (ISPs) launched a legal challenge against the GCHQ's hacking operations. The case alleged that the British spying agency was breaking European law and violating fundamental warrant protections by its too intrusive and persistent surveillance actions. Though GCHQ "neither confirm nor deny" the existence of such operations, the case made headlines in December last year when GCHQ admitted to its persistent hacking programs, "within and outside the UK," for the first time during the case hearings. However, a panel of five members of the IPT handed down the judgment on Friday, ruling that the computer network exploitation that may involve activating microphones and cameras on devices remotely without the owner's knowledge is legal and does not breach human rights. According to the senior judges, GCHQ's hacking efforts had "raised a number of serious questions," but a "proper balance" has been struck between the privacy of individuals and the need of the intelligence agency to investigate crimes. Here's what the lengthy ruling [ ] from the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) reads: The agency's hacking efforts had allowed the agents to tap into almost any electronic equipment, including computers, servers, routers, laptops, mobile phones and even Internet of Thing (IoT) devices such as smart toys, smart TVs and more. GCHQ also said it had: Privacy International, which brought the case, is, of course, very disappointed with the ruling, and so are we. How could a country decide spying people outside its country? The group will be challenging the decision on the grounds that it fragmented the European Convention on Human Rights when it comes to spying people within but outside of the UK. However, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, welcomed the ruling, saying the ruling was fair and took into account invasive actions that are necessary for the security of UK. So, once again the threat of terrorism saved the GCHQ's ass, as the judgement says the capabilities operated by the agency lie "at the very heart of the attempts of the State to safeguard the citizen against terrorist attack."
The UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has ruled that GCHQ’s hacking activities are legal. The case against the GCHQ alleged that the intelligence agency was breaking European law and violating fundamental warrant protections through its intrusive and persistent surveillance activities. GCHQ will never confirm nor deny that these operations exist, but the case caught the headlines in December 2015 when the intelligence agency admitted that it operated “within and outside the UK”. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, an IPT spokesperson said: “The tribunal is not bound by any legal requirement or statute of limitations.