GCHQ feared staff spying on celebs

STAFF at Britain’s intelligence agencies were warned not to use the huge databases to spy on friends, family or famous people.

Documents released by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal showed officers at GCHQ, the UK’s eavesdropping service, were ordered not to access the information frivolously. It was revealed they were sent internal warnings not to use the harvested data to pry ‘about other members of staff, neighbours, friends, acquaintances, family members and public figures’.

The tribunal also revealed concerns within the security agencies about their secretive collection of communications data and other personal details, including millions of British citizens’ tax and medical records.

In 010, a Mr Hannigan, of the Cabinet Office, wrote, ‘It is difficult to assess the extent to which the public is aware of agencies’ exploiting personal bulk datasets, including data on individuals of no intelligence value. Although existing legislation allows companies and UK government departments to share personal data with the agencies if necessary in the interests of national security, the extent to which this sharing takes place may not be evident to the public.’

The ruling does not give a first name but, at the time, current GCHQ director Robert Hannigan was the Cabinet Office head of security, intelligence and resilience.