Tom Watson teams up with former Conservative Shadow Home Secretary to sue the government over DRIP

It’s reported today that Tom Watson, the Labour MP for West Bromwich East and former Campaign Co-orindator, has teamed up with David Davis, the former Conservative Home Secretary, to sue the government over the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers bill (DRIP).

DRIP – which has been introduced into a European Court of Justice ruling that said actions taken under the Data Retentions Act of 2009 were illegal – gives the government extensive surveillance powers and makes it so that internet and phone companies can collect customers’  data and track their phone and internet use. It also makes it legal for these same companies to store this data for up to 12 months, which they must give to police, security services and other public bodies should they so request.

Watson explained the reasons for his and Davis’s opposition to the law:

“The three party leaders struck a private deal to railroad through a controversial bill in a week. You cannot make good laws behind closed doors. The new Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act does not answer the concerns of many that the blanket retention of personal data is a breach of fundamental rights to privacy.”

David echoed Watson concerns, explaining,

“This act of parliament was driven through the House of Commons with ridiculous and unnecessary haste to meet a completely artificial emergency. 

As a result members of parliament had no opportunity to either research it, consider it or debate it properly and the aim of this legal action is to make the government give the House the opportunity to do what it should have been allowed in the first place. Proper, considered and effective law making. The overall aim is to create law which both protects the security of our citizens without unnecessarily invading their privacy.”

Watson and Davis, supported by human rights campaigning organisation Liberty, have given the Home Office seven days’ notice of the decision to apply for judicial review.

If Watson’s and Davis’s case goes ahead, it wouldn’t overturn the new laws but it the would force the government into making sure DRIP is compatible with human rights law. We’ll keep you updated.