Thematic warrants

The request was refused by Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Edward Williams

Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Background:
https://privacyinternational.org/long-re...

"In 2014, following the Edward Snowden disclosures, it was revealed that the UK security and intelligence services use hacking techniques in bulk to gain access to potentially millions of devices, including computers and mobile phones.
Privacy International challenged these mass hacking practices in the IPT, which hears claims against the UK intelligence services. During the proceedings, the government asserted that it could rely on broad 'general warrants', not based on reasonable individual suspicion, to conduct hacking. The UK Government even argued that it would be lawful in principle to use a single warrant to hack every mobile phone in a UK city. In February 2016, the IPT held that this was lawful. "

Our initial claim in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in 2014 was about GCHQ's computer hacking operations. We further alleged that GCHQ hacking violates Articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which respectively protect the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression and also were unlawful under UK law. In February 2016, the IPT held that GCHQ hacking is lawful under UK law and the European Convention on Human Rights. The IPT further concluded that GCHQ may hack inside and outside of the UK using "thematic warrants." Thematic warrants are general warrants covering an entire class of property, persons or conduct, such as "all mobile phones in London."

Request:
I would like a dated list of all the 'general warrants' and/or thematic warrants. These are ones which are not based on reasonable individual suspicion. Please state the start and end date of the warrant's duration.

Yours faithfully,

Edward Williams

FOI-DPA PMCS (Sensitive),

Dear Edward Williams
 
Thank you for your FOI request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
It has been assigned a unique reference number (above) and has been passed
to the relevant section within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to deal
with. They will be in touch with you should your request need
clarification.
We received your request on 16 May 2019 and will aim to respond within 20
working days, following date of receipt.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Central FoI Unit
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 
 
 
 
_____________________________________________
From: Edward Williams <[FOI #576613 email]>
Sent: 15 May 2019 23:53
To: FOI-DPA PMCS (Sensitive) <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Thematic warrants
 
 
 
 
Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
 
Background:
[1]https://privacyinternational.org/long-re...
 
"In 2014, following the Edward Snowden disclosures, it was revealed that
the UK security and intelligence services use hacking techniques in bulk
to gain access to potentially millions of devices, including computers and
mobile phones.
Privacy International challenged these mass hacking practices in the IPT,
which hears claims against the UK intelligence services. During the
proceedings, the government asserted that it could rely on broad 'general
warrants', not based on reasonable individual suspicion, to conduct
hacking. The UK Government even argued that it would be lawful in
principle to use a single warrant to hack every mobile phone in a UK city.
In February 2016, the IPT held that this was lawful. "
 
Our initial claim in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in 2014 was
about GCHQ's computer hacking operations. We further alleged that GCHQ
hacking violates Articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human
Rights, which respectively protect the right to privacy and the right to
freedom of expression and also were unlawful under UK law. In February
2016, the IPT held that GCHQ hacking is lawful under UK law and the
European Convention on Human Rights. The IPT further concluded that GCHQ
may hack inside and outside of the UK using "thematic warrants." Thematic
warrants are general warrants covering an entire class of property,
persons or conduct, such as "all mobile phones in London."
 
Request:
I would like a dated list of all the 'general warrants' and/or thematic
warrants. These are ones which are not based on reasonable individual
suspicion. Please state the start and end date of the warrant's duration.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Edward Williams
 
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show quoted sections

Edward Williams

Dear FOI-DPA PMCS (Sensitive),

response now overdue.

Yours sincerely,

Edward Williams

WLD FOI (Sensitive),

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Williams
Thank you for your email of 15 May titled “Thematic warrants” (our ref
0455-19).  Given the similarity with your other request about warrants
(our ref 0454-19) we have provided one response covering both.  Please
find it attached.
Yours sincerely
Intelligence Policy Department
 
 
 
_____________________________________________
From: Edward Williams <[1][FOI #576613 email]>
Sent: 15 May 2019 23:53
To: FOI-DPA PMCS (Sensitive) <[2][email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Thematic warrants
 
 
 
Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
 
Background:
[3]https://privacyinternational.org/long-re...
 
"In 2014, following the Edward Snowden disclosures, it was revealed that
the UK security and intelligence services use hacking techniques in bulk
to gain access to potentially millions of devices, including computers and
mobile phones.
Privacy International challenged these mass hacking practices in the IPT,
which hears claims against the UK intelligence services. During the
proceedings, the government asserted that it could rely on broad 'general
warrants', not based on reasonable individual suspicion, to conduct
hacking. The UK Government even argued that it would be lawful in
principle to use a single warrant to hack every mobile phone in a UK city.
In February 2016, the IPT held that this was lawful. "
 
Our initial claim in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in 2014 was
about GCHQ's computer hacking operations. We further alleged that GCHQ
hacking violates Articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human
Rights, which respectively protect the right to privacy and the right to
freedom of expression and also were unlawful under UK law. In February
2016, the IPT held that GCHQ hacking is lawful under UK law and the
European Convention on Human Rights. The IPT further concluded that GCHQ
may hack inside and outside of the UK using "thematic warrants." Thematic
warrants are general warrants covering an entire class of property,
persons or conduct, such as "all mobile phones in London."
 
Request:
I would like a dated list of all the 'general warrants' and/or thematic
warrants. These are ones which are not based on reasonable individual
suspicion. Please state the start and end date of the warrant's duration.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Edward Williams
 

show quoted sections

Edward Williams

Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office's handling of my FOI request 'Thematic warrants'.

This covers both requests. See you at Tribunal.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/t...

Yours faithfully,

Edward Williams

FOI-DPA PMCS (Sensitive),

Dear Mr Williams,

Thank you for your request for an Internal Review of our response to your FOI Request Ref 0454-19 and 0455-19. It has been passed to the relevant department within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to deal with and they will respond to you with the outcome of the review.

We received your request on 14 June 2019 and will aim to respond within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely

Central FOI Unit
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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Edward Williams

Dear FOI-DPA PMCS (Sensitive),

IR is now due. Please do not delay.

Yours sincerely,

Edward Williams

WLD FOI (Sensitive),

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Williams,

 

Please find our reply, attached, regarding your request for an internal
review of 14 June.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Intelligence Policy Department

FCO

 

 

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Edward Williams left an annotation ()

Matter referred to the ICO today (2 complaints).