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NSA sharing data with British spies was illegal... but it's not going to stop

Here’s why.

UK SPIES ACTED illegally when they scooped up data about Britons’ electronic communications gathered by the US National Security Agency (NSA), a court ruled in a landmark judgment against Britain’s security services.

But the judges said now that details of the practices are known, they are within the law.

Britain’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which handles complaints against the intelligence services, ruled in a case brought by civil liberties groups against the electronic intelligence agency, GCHQ. It was the first time the tribunal has ruled against an intelligence agency.

It said before December 2014, “the regime governing the soliciting, receiving, storing and transmitting by U.K. authorities of private communications of individuals” gathered by the NSA contravened European Union protections of privacy and freedom of expression.

But it ruled the practices were now legal — because the lawsuit had made details of the procedures and safeguards public.

“Necessary and proportionate”

During the case, the government revealed that British spies can access data from US agencies with approval from a Cabinet minister if the interception is deemed “necessary and proportionate.”

The rights groups brought the case after U.S. intelligence analyst Edward Snowden’s disclosures about the mass harvesting of communications data. Snowden leaked details of NSA programs known as PRISM — which accessed data from Internet firms such as Yahoo and Google — and Upstream, which tapped into undersea communications cables.

The groups that brought the claim — Liberty, Privacy International, Bytes for All and Amnesty International — called the judgment a partial victory.

Privacy International director Eric King said the ruling confirmed that “GCHQ and the NSA have been engaged in an illegal mass surveillance-sharing program that has affected millions of people.”

The groups said they would appeal the ruling that the data-sharing was now legal to the European Court of Human Rights.

The judgment does not require GCHQ to pay a fine or delete any data, though individuals can ask the tribunal to find out whether their communications were intercepted unlawfully. If so, the GCHQ could be forced to delete it.

GCHQ said it was pleased the court had found that it complied with the law, adding that the ruling “does not require GCHQ to change what it does to protect national security in any way.”

Read: Government silent as Snowden docs reveal access to Ireland’s internet cables >

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18 Comments
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    Mute liam
    Favourite liam
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    Mar 11th 2016, 1:53 PM

    Gives me renewed hope that my €50 “get Liam a ride” gofundme effort might actually achieve its goal.

    640
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    Mute trashbaby
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:00 PM

    Donated, good luck. Do us proud.

    241
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    Mute Red Petal
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:56 PM

    Jaysus Liam, that’s cheap! If you get it for €50, don’t be surprised if he/she leaves you with an extra “gift”

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    Mute Dan Smith
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:58 PM

    Just donated €69. You deserve better than a €50 woman

    82
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    Mute Smidgen Dublin
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:08 PM

    Getting a job and saving was out of the question?

    229
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    Mute Red Petal
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:58 PM

    Hardly a scam when people know what they’re paying for or donating to!

    73
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    Mute Ivorpabst
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:36 PM

    Let me get this straight – you set up a webpage for something you want to do, & people give you free money ?

    207
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Mar 11th 2016, 3:27 PM

    Yep that’s usually the way it works .

    35
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    Mute Anonymous Man
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:48 PM

    Does anyone want to gofund my mortgage?

    166
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    Mute eimee
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:53 PM

    If there is any left over can you throw it towards my rent

    91
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    Mute Leadóg Hackett
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:26 PM

    Fair play to them. They’re switched on enough to know there are gullible fools out there with more money than cop on.

    126
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    Mute Bob Freeman
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:04 PM

    Most expensive ride ever

    123
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    Mute Maggie
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:02 PM

    Ffs

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    Mute Live Long
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:03 PM

    Beggars

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:36 PM

    Gofundmygypsywedding

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    Mute trashbaby
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    Mar 11th 2016, 1:55 PM

    Young love. This is nice cheers Cormac.

    I’m also looking for my lost love all donations welcome.

    59
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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:58 PM

    Good luck to them both! Nice to see love getting a chance! I’m 61, widowed, and in love again!

    50
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    Mute Joey English
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:28 PM

    https://www.gofundme.com/c3t2trkc
    This is what go fund me should be used for, not going off to get a (ridiculously expensive) ride!
    Apologies for the shameless plug, trying to raise some awareness!

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    Mute J Judd
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    Mar 11th 2016, 2:16 PM

    $1000 for an entire summer ? Seems a very small amount flights accommodation expenses etc

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    Mute Kane Abel
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    Mar 11th 2016, 5:36 PM

    Wait a few months for the Go Fund Me page for the Gynaecologist’s fees…..

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    Mute Gerald Horgan
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    Mar 11th 2016, 4:08 PM

    non news :)

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    Mute ChelseaLen
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    Mar 11th 2016, 5:07 PM

    Fair play.

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    Mute Tony_Kilduff
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    Mar 12th 2016, 11:35 AM

    What idiots donated to this ? It was daffodil day yesterday and all !

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    Mute Adrienne Lyons
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    Mar 12th 2016, 8:29 AM

    I fancy a little break and would love to visit my friend but funds are low. Might set up a go fund page. I can afford the flights but need beer money etc!

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    Mute Daniel Brosnan
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    Mar 14th 2016, 6:37 AM
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