UK's GCHQ faces legal challenge over spying malware
Iran Press TV
Wed May 14, 2014 9:5AM GMT
Britain's eavesdropping agency, the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), is facing a legal challenge for using a spy malware to hijack electronic devices without their users' consent.
According to recent revelations, the GCHQ has developed malicious software that remotely takes control of people's computer cameras and microphones and targets mobile phones.
The malware steals any stored content, logging of keystrokes and covertly photographs and records the user and those around him/her.
The details of the surveillance program were published by the British daily the Guardian and journalist Glenn Greenwald in January and March 2014 respectively.
Privacy International (PI), a UK-based registered charity, filed a lawsuit against the GCHQ on Tuesday at a secret court, which probes complaints about British spy agencies.
PI Deputy Director Eric King said undertaking hacking programs by the GCHQ resembles entering people's homes by the government.
"All of this is being done under a cloak of secrecy without any public debate or clear lawful authority. Arbitrary powers such as these are the purview of dictatorships, not democracies. Unrestrained, unregulated government spying of this kind is the antithesis of the rule of law and government must be held accountable for their actions," he added.
Classified documents leaked by American whistleblower Edward Snowden in June last year revealed that the GCHQ was secretly accessing the network of cables that carry the world's phone calls and Internet traffic and had been sharing the data with the US National Security Agency (NSA).
In October 2013, civil liberties campaigners launched legal action against the GCHQ over the alleged violation of the privacy of millions of people across the UK and Europe via online surveillance.
SSM/HJL/HRB
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