CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Full lists of all those who made written submissions to the Review, and of the
organisations (and in some cases individuals) with whom I have spoken, are at Annex
3 and Annex 4 to this Report.
1.22.
In addition, the ISC shared with me the entirety of the extensive closed evidence that
it took as part of its own Privacy and Security Review, and I have seen the confidential
parts of the ISC’s report as well as of the reports of IOCCO and the ISCommr. Much
highly classified material was volunteered to me, and nothing that I asked to see,
however sensitive or secret, was withheld from me.
1.23.
I was fortunate to recruit to the Review team two barristers (Tim Johnston and Jennifer
MacLeod), a solicitor (Rose Stringer) and a former civil servant (Robert Raine CBE),
each of whom, despite other commitments, has given substantial time and effort to
the Review, greatly extending its reach and helping to ensure its quality. Dr Bob Nowill
agreed to act as technical consultant: he has explained much and saved me from a
number of errors. Commissioners, judges, academics, lawyers, non-governmental
organisations [NGOs], technology experts, retired civil servants and others from
across the world have been generous with their help: they have done much to
challenge and influence my views. Eric King, Tom Hickman, Ben Jaffey and Jo Cavan
each commented on one or more draft Chapters dealing with technology, law and
practice. None of the above should be associated with any of the views expressed in
this Report, which (like any factual errors) are my responsibility alone.
Terminology
1.24.
Lists of the acronyms and definitions used in this Report are at Annex 1 and Annex 2
respectively.
Treatment of classified material
1.25
It is my practice when reviewing the terrorism laws to produce a single, open report
which can be shared with Parliament and public without the need for redactions. I
have followed the same approach in this report. My aim was to ensure that the Prime
Minister would not be called upon to use his power of exclusion under DRIPA s7. To
that end I have shared parts of my draft report with the Government in advance, for
the purpose of ensuring that national security-sensitive passages could be identified
and, by negotiation or agreement, rendered acceptable for public release.
1.26
In a few respects (e.g. the bulk collection case studies at Annex 9), this Report contains
material that security and intelligence agencies have not previously put into the public
domain. But it has not been possible to deal in the pages of this Report with everything
that is relevant to the Review.26
1.27
I have emphasised in my Recommendations the importance of transparency, of public
avowal, and of backing all capabilities with accessible and foreseeable legal
provisions.27 More broadly, my conclusions have been arrived at on the basis of all
26
27
This will not be surprising to any reader of the ISC’s Privacy and Security Report: the existence of
classified material relevant to its subject and to mine is indicated by the frequent use of asterisks.
See in particular Recommendations 3-5, 8-10 and 121-124.
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