Privacy Under Threat From New Prime Minister

Theresa May’s elevation to Number 10 has massively increased the chances of the “Snooper’s Charter” succeeding – and that could just be the start

- Malcolm Park

THERESA MAY’S MOVE from the Home Office to 10 Downing Street could have a damaging impact on the tech industry and online privacy, according to consumer rights groups and think tanks.

May, who as home secretary was the driving force behind the Investigatory Powers Bill, is willing to sacrifice personal privacy to assist anti-terror investigations, according to her critics.

“She’s very much shown that she’s not a fan of privacy or putting in place protection that’s necessary to protect our data or privacy, so it’s concerning that she’s gone into Number 10 with that sort of agenda,” said Sara Ogilvie, policy officer for civil rights group Liberty. “There will certainly be further consequences of having her there.”

May’s choice of Cabinet ministers has already nullified one of the key opponents to the so-called “Snooper’s Charter” – the Conservative MP David Davis, who has now become Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. Davis and Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, took the legislation to the European Court of Justice, claiming its bulk surveillance powers treated “the entire nation as suspects”.