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The Investigatory Powers Act - or Snoopers' Charter to its critics - is a highly controversial new law. On one hand, it clarifies a host of vague laws which were out of date with modern technology - but it also enshrines new powers of digital observation and surveillance, which will be available to the British intelligence services, the police, and a host of government agencies.

In this programme, David Aaronovitch explores the specifics of this new law, including the new safeguards which it puts in place, including the new demand for warrants for government 'equipment interference' (or hacking) must now be signed off by a senior judge.

He also discusses the new legal requirement for Internet Service Providers to store data about our internet browsing habits and the power for government authorities to demand access to this information.

Does the new law mean we are safer? Better safeguarded against surveillance abuses? Susceptible to more government scrutiny? Or all three of these things?

CONTRIBUTORS

Bella Sankey, Director of Policy at the civil liberties advocacy organisation Liberty

David Anderson QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation for the United Kingdom

Sir David Omand, visiting professor at King's College London and former Director of GCHQ

Producer: Richard Fenton-Smith
Research: Matt Bardo
Editor: Innes Bowen