GCHQ allows spying on Facebook, Twitter

Britain’s top counter-terrorism official says the country’s espionage rules allow its electronic spy agency to routinely intercept online communications between Britons who use US-based platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Google.

A witness statement by the Office for Security and Counter-terrorism chief Charles Farr said data sent on those services was classed as “external” rather than “internal” communications because the companies were based outside Britain.

Britain’s Home Office confirmed the document was genuine.