Hacking guidelines for UK spies published

Hacking guidelines for UK spies published
Summary:The UK government has published guidlines for the use of computer hackingThe UK government has published a set of draft guidelines concerning the use of hacking and bugging electronic devices by the security and intelligence services.

While it has been long assumed that the intelligence services used such techniques as part of intelligence gathering and surveillance, it's rare that such actions are acknowledged publicly.

The draft Equipment Interference draft code of practice, published by the Home Office, applies to the activities of the UK's security and intelligence agencies at home and abroad.

The code details when the agencies can legally interfere with "equipment producing electromagnetic, acoustic and other emissions": that is, hacking and bugging devices including computers, servers, routers, laptops and mobile phones to either obtain information or conduct surveillance.

The guidance includes details on when warrants can be issued before such activity takes place, how the agencies should deal with collateral intrusion - spying on the wrong person - and dealing with content subject to legal privilege, as well as guidance on who information should be shared with and how it should be stored or eventually destroyed.

James Brokenshire, minister for immigration and security, said the code of practice details the safeguards applied to techniques including the use of computer network exploitation "to identify, track and disrupt the most sophisticated targets".

The ability to read or listen to a suspect's communications or to interfere with his or her computer equipment are among the most important, sensitive, and closely scrutinised powers available to the state, according to Brokenshire. "As the threat to the UK from terrorism, espionage and organised crime has diversified, these powers have become more important," he added.

"There are limits on what can be said in public about this work. But it is imperative that the government is as open as it can be about these capabilities and how they are used," Brokenshire said

A consultation on the new code of practice is open until 20 March.by the intelligence and security services.