Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Annual Report 2019
Remit of the Technology Advisory Panel
17.2
The Technology Advisory Panel (TAP) was set up under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016
(“the Act”) (paragraphs 246-247). Establishing and maintaining the TAP is a responsibility
of the Commissioner but the TAP may also give advice to relevant Ministers. The TAP
has a dual function under the Act: to advise about the impact of changing technology,
and to advise about the availability and development of techniques to use investigatory
powers while minimising interference with privacy. In the definition of the panel’s remit,
“technology” is taken to be interpreted broadly, to include all relevant areas of science and
mathematics. The remit of the Panel does not extend to consideration of matters of law,
partisan politics or moral philosophy. The TAP is not a decision-making body and its advice
cannot constrain any decision of the Commissioner or of any part of the Government.
Membership of the Panel
17.3
The Chair of the TAP is Sir Bernard Silverman FRS, formerly Chief Scientific Adviser to the
Home Office and Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Oxford University. TAP members during
2019 were: Professor Muffy Calder, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Science and
Engineering at Glasgow University, and previously the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland;
Professor Derek McAuley, Professor of Digital Economy in the School of Computer Science
at the University of Nottingham, John Davies, who has an extensive technical background
in both government and private industry roles, and Daryl Burns, who has worked in
cryptography and cyber security for over 30 years and was Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor
for National Security.
17.4
TAP members are remunerated at an agreed daily rate. During 2019 members contributed
an average of 25 days each to TAP duties. The TAP is supported by a Secretary who is a parttime (50%) civil servant.
Activities undertaken by the TAP and its members during 2019
Meetings
17.5
Panel meetings took place in February, May, July, September and December.
17.6
Formal meetings between the Chair of the TAP and the Investigatory Powers Commissioner
took place in May and November.
Publications
17.7
A Working Protocol for the TAP, agreed between the Commissioner and the Chair of the
TAP, sets out the structure and functions of the TAP, as well as the basis of the working
relationship between the TAP and the Commissioner’s Office.52
17.8
The report of the November 2018 Metrics of Privacy workshop was published.53
52 TAP, “Working Protocol” (March 2019), https://www.ipco.org.uk/docs/TAP%20working%20protocol%20
(25%20March%202019)%20FINAL.pdf
53 TAP, “Metrics of Privacy Conference”(November 2018), https://www.ipco.org.uk/docs/Formal%20report_
Metrics%20of%20Privacy%20Conference.pdf
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