The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) is an act passed into law by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in 2000. It regulates the way law enforcement and other authorities can use certain powers of surveillance and data access in the course of their investigations.

Purpose

According to the official Explanatory Notes provided by the Home Office of the U.K. government, the main purpose of RIPA is to provide certain specific powers to law enforcement and other investigatory authorities with regard to intercepting electronic communications and acquiring personal information, including encrypted data. It also is meant to ensure that those authorities do not violate human rights in using those powers.

Scope

RIPA specifically covers six powers that are granted to investigating authorities. Those six powers include intercepting communications transmitted electronically; acquiring communications data such as billing records; intrusive surveillance like wiretaps; covert surveillance like bugs; the use of informants and undercover agents; and access to encrypted data.

Framework

For each of the powers listed, RIPA details the reasons it can be used, who can use it, who can authorize its use and how the information acquired can be used. Those provisions vary with each of the powers.

Protections

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act also establishes a commissioner and independent judicial oversight to review uses of those powers, and a procedure by which individuals can seek redress if those powers are abused.

Key Implications

RIPA allows law enforcement and intelligence agencies to obtain electronic data without a warrant issued by a court. Instead, it places the authority to authorize the use of wiretaps, electronic surveillance and interception of electronic communications in the hands of the Home Secretary.

Controversy

According to Privacy International, a 20-year-old privacy advocacy group, many legal experts believe that some of RIPA's provisions violate the European Convention on Human Rights on invasion of privacy.

Source:

U.K. Statute Law

Offical Explanatory Notes for RIPA

Privacy International

Resource:

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Information Centre