Web surveillance bill lacks protection for lawyers

It has emerged that the government's draft investigatory powers bill, which will govern state agencies' interception of communications, lacks statutory protection for legal privilege.

Law Society chief executive Catherine Dixon said: ‘We are … concerned by the absence of explicit protection for clients so that they are able to speak to their legal advisers and receive confidential advice … without fear that someone is listening in.’ The Law Society and Bar Council are jointly campaigning for statutory protection for legal professional privilege. 

Pre-legislative scrutiny

The Home Office have said the draft bill will go through full pre-legislative scrutiny before a revised bill is laid before parliament in spring next year. Source: The Law Society Gazette

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