Edward Snowden ‘vindicated’ after European Court finds UK government’s spying laws violated human rights

GCHQ headquarters in Cheltenham
Support us and go ad-free

In the first major challenge to the UK’s spying laws, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found that GCHQ’s collection of data violated rights to privacy and freedom of expression. On 13 September, the judges found that:

The interception of communications data is as serious a breach of privacy as the interception of content

And:

The UK’s regime for authorising bulk interception was incapable of keeping the ‘interference’ to what is ‘necessary in a democratic society’.

The challenge was brought by 14 groups including Amnesty International, Liberty, and Privacy International.

The decision will have a big impact on the future of UK spying laws. Lucy Claridge of Amnesty International said: “Today’s ruling […] sends a strong message to the UK government that its use of extensive surveillance powers is abusive and runs against the very principles that it claims to be defending.”

Privacy International’s tweet summarises the problems with spying laws and data collection:

Read on...

Support us and go ad-free

Edward Snowden vindicated

The legal challenge began in 2013, following Edward Snowden’s massive leak of documents regarding international spying programmes.

Snowden now lives in Russia. If he lived anywhere else in the world, “the US could apply economic pressure or send in a CIA team to kidnap him”. And the current US administration poses a particular threat to his freedom. National Security Adviser John Bolton claimed in 2013 that Snowden had “betrayed his country.”

According to UK privacy group Big Brother Watch, the European Court’s latest judgement “vindicates” Snowden. It is highly unlikely, however, to result in his right to return home to the United States.

Massive victory

Following the judgement, Snowden celebrated the massive victory, saying: “Don’t thank me: thank all of those who never stopped fighting.”

Many privacy organisations, human rights groups, and journalists also celebrated on Twitter.

Journalist and Amnesty International campaigner Stefan Simanowitz said it was a “victory” for people living in the UK:

Green MP and environmental campaigner Caroline Lucas said:

The National Union of Journalists also welcomed the judgement, claiming “a significant victory for the campaign to protect journalists’ sources and the right of journalists to adhere to the NUJ’s ethical code of conduct”.

What next for spying laws?

While today’s victory is a big one, it’s only the beginning of a long battle with spying laws. Since the case began in 2013, Liberty claims that the UK government “has replicated and expanded the powers we challenged here in the Investigatory Powers Act”.

Governments, moreover, continue to punish whistleblowers.

But spying laws have it the wrong way round. We should treat those who risk their safety to challenge the powerful not as criminals, but as national heroes.

Get Involved!

– Support the groups involved in this case, such as Amnesty International, Liberty, and Privacy International.

– Read more of The Canary’s coverage on privacy and surveillance.

– Support The Canary if you appreciate the work we do.

Featured image via Defence Images

Support us and go ad-free

We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support

The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.

The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.

So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.

Support us

Comments are closed