UK MPs call for intelligence overhaul amid leaks
Iran Press TV
Fri May 9, 2014 7:4AM GMT
British lawmakers have called for radical reforms in the oversight of the country's intelligence system, following disclosures by the American whistleblower Edward Snowden.
A critical report by the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, published on Friday, argued that the revelations showed the weak nature of the oversight and accountability of Britain's security and intelligence agencies.
The report slammed the current system as ineffective, saying it is undermining the credibility of the intelligence agencies and parliament itself.
"It is an embarrassing indictment of our system that some in the media felt compelled to publish leaked information to ensure that matters were heard in parliament," said committee chair, Keith Vaz.
British MPs called for reforms in the system, including the election of the membership of the intelligence and security committee. Moreover, in direct criticism of the committee's current chair, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who is a former Conservative foreign secretary, the British MPs said the head should be a member of the largest opposition party.
The cross-party report is the first British parliamentary acknowledgement that revelations by Snowden should lead to serious improvements in the accountability of the security services, including the MI5, MI6, and Britain's eavesdropping agency, The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).
Classified documents leaked by Snowden in June last year revealed that GCHQ was secretly accessing the network of cables, which carry the world's phone calls and Internet traffic and has been sharing the data with the US National Security Agency (NSA).
In October 2013, civil liberties campaigners launched legal action against GCHQ over the alleged violation of the privacy of millions of people across the UK and Europe via online surveillance.
MOS/NN/HMV
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