Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 ( RIP, RIPA ) is a law that regulates the interception of telecommunications in the United Kingdom. It was adopted in its first version on 26 July 2000 by the British parliament and has since expanded several times.

RIPA authorizes the state agencies listed in the Act to surveillance measures in the service of national security, for the purpose of fighting crime, to maintain public health and safety and to protect national economic interests of Britain.

The list of authorized government agencies now comprises 792 public authorities, including police, military, customs, health, education, judicial and other administrative authorities, intelligence agencies and 474 local councils ( regional government, see Administrative divisions of England ).

RIPA allows these facilities, depending on their area of ​​responsibility

• By an Internet service provider to demand access to electronic communications of a client without the latter finds out about it;
• To require an ISP to install technical equipment for communication monitoring;
• Large-area monitoring of mobile communications;
• Monitoring the Internet activities of certain persons;
• To conceal the existence of surveillance measures in court;
• To require a person the issuance of electronic keys and to impose prison sentences for refusal.

Especially the latter scheme was publicly criticized. Also in the criticism is the practice of many authorized by RIPA surveillance measures to regional authorities, to use them for minor offenses, with four -digit monthly case numbers are achieved. Also were allegations that most parliamentarians and members of government have the law at the time of adoption is not sufficiently understood.