The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has suggested that eavesdropping by its GCHQ security agency is legal; and provides no threat to privacy of law-abiding UK citizens.
Previously it has been suggested that GCHQ generated just shy of two-hundred intelligence reports in the twelve months to May last year, an increase of over one-hundred-and-thirty percent compared to the previous year.
Over the weekend, it was reported within the press that the US National Security Agency, provided the UK with information relating to British citizens; which was gathered via the Prism programme.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, although William Hague refused to confirm or deny reports linking the UK to Prism; the Foreign Secretary did confirm that the UK and US have shared information – but added that GCHQ’s work was governed by an extremely strong legal framework.
The Foreign Secretary, went on to say that it was both “fanciful” and “nonsense” to suggest that GCHQ would work with an agency in another country to circumvent the law – following concerns being raised by MPs, including the former Home Secretary David Davis.
In an attempt to calm concerns surrounding the reports over the weekend, William Hague, has agreed to appear in front of the House of Lords this afternoon (June 10th); to reiterate that law abiding citizens who have nothing to hide do not need to be concerned about the work carried out by GCHQ.