State to examine law around its right to access communications data

The Government is to ask the State’s legal experts to examine the law around its right to access communications data but not before it gives law enforcement agencies the power to intercept email and internet content.

The Government said the new powers are needed as a matter of priority, while the legal review is a longer-term initiative.

Digital rights campaigner TJ McIntyre said that the sequencing reflected the characteristic approach of “ready, fire, aim” of the Department of Justice and said it could jeopardise future prosecutions.