The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23) (RIP or RIPA) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, regulating the powers of public bodies to carry out surveillance and investigation, and covering the interception of communications. It was introduced by the Tony Blair Labour government ostensibly to take account of technological change such as the growth of the Internet and strong encryption.
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 9 February 2000 and completed its parliamentary passage on 26 July.
Following a public consultation and Parliamentary debate, Parliament approved new additions in December 2003, April 2005, July 2006 and February 2010.Statutory instruments Nos 3171 and 3172 of 2003, 1083 and 1084 of 2005, 1874 and 1878 of 2006 and 480 and 521 of 2010 A draft bill was put before Parliament during 4 November 2015.
Summary
RIPA regulates the manner in which certain public bodies may conduct surveillance and access a person's electronic communications. The Act:
enables certain public bodies to demand that an Internet service provider (ISP) provide access to a customer's communications in secret; enables mass surveillance of communications in transit; enables certain public bodies to demand ISPs fit equipment to facilitate surveillance; enables certain public bodies to demand that someone hand over keys to protected information; allows certain public bodies to monitor people's Internet activities; prevents the existence of interception warrants and any data collected with them from being revealed in court.
Powers Type Typical use Reasons for use Type of public authority permitted to use Level of authorisation required Interception of a communicationRegulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Wire taps and reading post In the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime and for the purpose of safeguarding the economic well-being of the United Kingdom Defence Intelligence, GCHQ, HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force, Secret Intelligence Service, Security Service and territorial police forces Warrant from Home Secretary or Cabinet Secretary for Justice AND a Judicial Commissioner Use of communications dataRegulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Information about a communication, but not the content of that communication (phone numbers, subscriber details) In the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or of preventing disorder, in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, in the interests of public safety, for the purpose of protecting public health, for the purpose of assessing or collecting any tax, duty, levy or other imposition, contribution or charge payable to a government department and for the purpose, in an emergency, of preventing death or injury or any damage to a person's physical or mental health, or of any injury or damage to a person's physical or mental health. As listed below Senior member of that authority Directed surveillanceRegulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Following people In the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or of preventing disorder, in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, in the interests of public safety, for the purpose of protecting public health and for the purpose of assessing or collecting any tax, duty, levy or other imposition, contribution or charge payable to a government department. As listed below Senior member of that authority Covert human intelligence sourcesRegulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Informers; undercover officers In the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or of preventing disorder, in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, in the interests of public safety, for the purpose of protecting public health and for the purpose of assessing or collecting any tax, duty, levy or other imposition, contribution or charge payable to a government department. As listed above Senior member of that authority Intrusive surveillanceRegulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Bugging houses/vehicles In the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime and in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom. GCHQ, Secret Intelligence Service, Security Service, Ministry of Defence, armed forces, His Majesty's Prison Service or Northern Ireland Prison Service. Authorisation from Home Secretary or Cabinet Secretary for Justice The territorial police forces, the Ministry of Defence Police, the British Transport Police, the Royal Navy Regulating Branch, Royal Military Police, Royal Air Force Police and HM Revenue and Customs. Authorisation from the head of the relevant agency: chief constable of any of the territorial police forces, the Ministry of Defence Police or the British Transport Police, the Provosts Marshal of the Royal Navy Regulating Branch, Royal Military Police or the Royal Air Force Police and a customs officer designated for the purposes by the Commissioners of Revenue and Customs including Border Force.
Agencies with investigative powers + Legislation that stipulates public agencies with investigative powers Schedule 1 to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Designation of Public Authorities for the Purposes of Intrusive Surveillance) Order 2001 The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Intrusive Surveillance) Order 2003 The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources) Order 2003 The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources) (Amendment) Order 2005 The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Amendment) Order 2005 The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources) (Amendment) Order 2006 The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Additional Functions and Amendment) Order 2006
Communications data The type of communications data that can be accessed varies with the reason for its use, and cannot be adequately explained here. Refer to the legislation for more specific information. Charity Commission Criminal Cases Review Commission Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service a county council or district council in England, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, and any county council or county borough council in Wales Department for Transport, for the purposes of: Marine Accident Investigation Branch Rail Accident Investigation Branch Air Accidents Investigation Branch Maritime and Coastguard Agency a district council within the meaning of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for Northern Ireland (for the purposes of Trading Standards) Department of Health (for the purposes of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) Department of Trade and Industry Environment Agency Financial Conduct Authority a fire and rescue authority Fire Authority for Northern Ireland Food Standards Agency Gambling Commission Gangmasters Licensing Authority Government Communications Headquarters Health and Safety Executive HM Revenue and Customs Home Office (for the purposes of the UK Border Agency) Independent Police Complaints Commission Information Commissioner a Joint Board where it is a fire authority Office of Communications Office of Fair Trading The Pensions Regulator Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Port of Dover Police Port of Liverpool Police Post Office Investigation Branch Postal Services Commission NHS ambulance service Trust NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Services Trust Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Central Services Agency Royal Navy Regulating Branch Royal Military Police Royal Air Force Police Scottish Ambulance Service Board a Scottish council where it is a fire authority Scottish Environment Protection Agency Secret Intelligence Service Security Service Serious Fraud Office the special police forces (including the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency) the territorial police forces Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
Directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources The reasons for which the use of directed surveillance & covert human intelligence sources is permitted vary with each authority. Refer to the legislation for more specific information. The armed forces Charity Commission Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection a county council or district council in England, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, and any county council or county borough council in Wales Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (for the purposes of the Marine Fisheries Agency) Department of Health (for the purposes of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) Department of Trade and Industry Department for Transport (for the purposes of transport security, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, Driving Standards Agency and Maritime and Coastguard Agency) Department for Work and Pensions Environment Agency Financial Conduct Authority a fire authority Food Standards Agency Gambling Commission Gangmasters Licensing Authority Government Communications Headquarters Commissioners of Revenue and Customs Home Office (for the purposes of HM Prison Service and the UK Border Agency) Ministry of Defence Northern Ireland Office (for the purposes of the Northern Ireland Prison Service) Ofcom Office of Fair Trading Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Postal Services Commission Port of Dover Police Port of Liverpool Police Royal Mail Secret Intelligence Service Security Service Serious Fraud Office Welsh Government (for the purposes of the NHS Directorate, NHS Finance Division, Common Agricultural Policy Management Division and Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales) a territorial police force or special police force
Directed surveillance The reasons for which the use of directed surveillance is permitted vary with each authority. Refer to the legislation for more specific information. Health & Safety Executive Information Commissioner His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England (for the purposes of the Complaints, Investigation and Enforcement Team) General Pharmaceutical Council
Opposition Before the Bill's passage, several digital rights organisations campaigned against its provisions, particularly the key disclosure requirements in Part III.
The campaign group STAND.org.uk had been formed in December 1998 to oppose the government's earlier key escrow proposals for the Electronic Communications Bill.