Investigatory Powers Act 2016
- 2016
- Primary
A comprehensive Act consolidating and expanding the legislative framework for investigatory powers used by police, intelligence agencies, and other public authorities. It created a new oversight body (the Investigatory Powers Commissioner), introduced a "double lock" authorisation system requiring both ministerial and judicial approval for the most intrusive powers, and set out the legal basis for bulk data collection and hacking by intelligence agencies.
Last updated 24 September 2026
