ECJ to Hear DRIPA Case as IP Bill Resumes Committee Stage

On 12 April the European Court of Justice will hear arguments on the legality of how police and intelligence services access retained data, judicial authorisation of the process and bulk interception of information relating to emails, phone calls and text messages.

The case, brought by MPs Tom Watson and David Davis, was sparked by the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act, which the UK courts ruled unlawful under the previous ECJ decision in Digital Rights Ireland.

The case will be heard on the same day as the Investigatory Powers Bill  resumes Committee Stage, and the court’s decision, which will be binding on the UK, could have a huge impact on Bill. The issues involved are of pan-European interest, and at least nine other EU countries, and the European Commission, have made submissions in the case. The NMA supplied written evidence to the Committe in March.