Legislation to allow security service to snoop into smartphones

UK is set to pass legislation to allow the security services to snoop into smartphones, and scrutinise vast data sets and browsing habits.

“We are moving towards a world where we end up predicting crime and prosecuting it before it happens.” By 2020, 35bn Zettabytes of data will be generated worldwide.

Canada, France, New Zealand, Australia and others have introduced extraordinary powers to give security services and police far reaching surveillance powers.

The UK’s investigative powers bill is due to complete its final stages of parliamentary scrutiny in the autumn, which can force internet companies to hand over, without a warrant, details of every app they use, and to hold that information for upto 12 months. The companies must also create systems so that the information can be accessed on demand via a single searchable database, as the world becomes increasingly digitised, it needs powers to keep up with technological changes.

If you plug your smartphone in to charge via USB at a public place, can be legally hacked by immigration officers. Whistleblower Edward Snowden has warned that UK spy agency GCHQ has the ability to hack into smartphones with encrypted text messages.