February 12, 2016
A fifth of GCHQ intelligence comes from hacking in to phones and computers, the agency has revealed, as it won a human rights victory over its once secret technique.
The spy agency admitted last year that it regularly hacks electronic devices – known as equipment interference – to gather data on suspects.
It was forced to defend the power before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal after a civil liberty group and Internet companies claimed it breached human rights laws.
But the panel, which hears challenges against the security and intelligence agencies, ruled the methods were lawful.