British security agencies have secretly and unlawfully collected massive volumes of confidential personal data, including financial information, on citizens for more than a decade, top judges have ruled. It also revealed concerns within the security agencies about the secretive nature of their bulk data collection activities. “It facilitates the almost instantaneous cataloguing of entire populations’ personal data. We are therefore pleased the tribunal has confirmed the current lawfulness of the existing bulk communications data and bulk personal dataset regimes. He added: “Allowing the state to collect endless amounts of personal data is not just a gross invasion of privacy, it is a waste of precious resources.

Source: The Guardian October 17, 2016 13:25 UTC