In this computer science video lesson you will learn about the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (also known as RIPA) and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. These two British laws were enacted to enable public authorities to carry out covert surveillance of the public. The Investigatory Powers Act updated RIPA and established some controls over the ways these powers could be exercised, including the formation of the Investigatory Powers Commission (IPC). This video explains what is meant by covert surveillance and explains which public authorities have the power to do it. It also mentions how the Investigatory Power’s Act 2016 became British law in the wake of revelations by Edward Snowden that the USA’s National Security Agency (NSA) was conducting covert surveillance, in cooperation with a number of European Governments, on a global scale. The Investigatory Powers Act therefore became known as the Snooper’s Charter by various human rights groups.

Chapters:
00:00 Laws to enable covert surveillance and data gathering
01:20 Why do we need these laws?
02:14 Objectives of the law
03:10 What is covert surveillance?
04:24 What is NOT covert surveillance?
05:40 Public authorities
07:48 Summary of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
09:52 Summary of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016
13:00 The Wilson Doctrine
13:36 Edward Snowden’s Revelations
14:28 Investigatory Powers Commission (IPC)