Police can now hack into home computers without a
warrant, as theEuropean Union(EU) continues to
increase states’ power to tackle electronic crime.
Officers are allowed to hack into personal hard drives remotely,
using either malware contained in an email, a wireless network
outside a house, or a device attached to a computer that records
the user’s activity. The hacking methods will be used to combat
criminals using the web, such as identity thieves and
terrorists.
But Peter Sommer, a professor in information systems at the
London School of Economics, said that the powers have been in place
since 2000 in the UK. The latest developments from the EU, he said,
are to ensure other European countries have similar legislation in
place.
“This is nothing very new,” he said. “It’s done under the
Regulation of Investigatory Powers act, which has been in place
since 2000.”
Civil liberties campaigners say the methods are “intrusive”.
Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty, said,
“These are very intrusive powers - as intrusive as someone busting
down your door and coming into your home. The public will want this
to be controlled by new legislation and judicial authorisation.
Without those safeguards it's a devastating blow to any notion of
personal privacy.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said safeguards
are in place to ensure the powers are only used in suitable
situations.
A spokesman said, “The framework under which any form of
intrusive surveillance can take place is closely governed under the
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.
“What the EU refers to as ‘remote searches’ would fall into this
category and require authorisation from a chief constable and prior
approval (except in an emergency) from an intelligence commissioner
and where appropriate, under agreed published criteria, prior
approval would be sought from the Surveillance Commissioner.”
Professor Sommer said the powers are used relatively rarely,
because the device required to give remote access can be spotted by
anti-virus software, alerting the suspect. Evidence gathered by
remote hacking is also vulnerable to challenge, because it can’t be
tested and “contaminates” the target computer.
“All of these can be overcome with great care on the part of the
investigators, but it is a risk which police will want to assess
carefully,” he said.
A spokesman for the Home Office said, “The UK has agreed to a
strategic approach towards tackling cyber crime on the same basis
as all member states.
“We fully support work to develop an understanding of the scale
and impact of electronic crime across the EU.”