On: UK Government is breaking the law by collecting ev...

[heraclmene]

So the emergency ruling has been classed as illegal, but the 'Investigatory Powers' act has not.

[noir_lord → heraclmene]

They can only rule on the matter before them, Snoopers Charter isn't law yet but will likely end up in front of the same court.

[Silhouette → noir_lord]

The new law received royal assent at the end of November and is now a done deal, though it hasn't actually come into effect yet and there will inevitably be legal challenges.

[basisword → Silhouette]

>> "it hasn't actually come into effect yet"

I believe some of it has already come into effect. According to s. 272[1] several sections come into effect on the day the Act is passed and another few after a period of two months.

[1] http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/25/section/272/enac...

[Silhouette → basisword]

Fair point, though IIRC those sections are the technicalities about definitions and the like. The real substance isn't due to start doing anything until some next year, as I understand it.

[basisword → Silhouette]

I just looked through it and you're right, it's mainly definitions and technicalities. Nothing substantial.

[toyg → noir_lord]

Or rather it gives grounds to UK courts to rule against the Snoopers' Charter over and over. It's very unlikely the ECJ will ever get back to this topic; like the US Supreme Court they carefully choose what to accept for review, and they don't like to repeat themselves.