UK spy auditor gives state snoops a big pat on the back for job well done – except MI5

The UK's spy agency auditor has given public sector snoopers a clean bill of health – except for domestic surveillance specialists MI5, whose cloud data storage blunder is still under investigation. In its annual report for 2018, published this week, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office (IPCO) concluded once again …

[Will Godfrey]

There's a reason for the written response

He couldn't keep a straight face when trying to say it was all tickety boo.

[NoneSuch]

Re: There's a reason for the written response

Oh yes he did.

The SAS men in the corner holding the potato sack hood made sure he kept a straight face.

[Chris G]

Overall, investigatory powers are used responsibly within the UK.

responsibly

1.

in a sensible or trustworthy manner.

"companies should act responsibly when it comes to virus alerts"

2.

in a way that relates to duty or responsibility.

So, I assume 'responsibly is used in the sense of the second definition rather than the trustworthy definition.

[David Shaw]

except

for some reason Computer Weekly is rather less impressed with MI.5

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252479661/MI5-slammed-by-watchdog-for-failing-to-delete-intercepted-phone-and-internet-data

their "slammed by watchdog" as opposed to your "cloud data storage blunder" - I'll read further, later...

[Warm Braw]

The post of Investigatory Powers Commissioner

If the job were actually what the title implies, nobody suitable to do it would want it, never mind actually get appointed.

The government could save a fortune by replacing the entire apparatus with an animated "OK" GIF.

[Anonymous Coward]

Spy agencies

I notice that Facebook was omitted from the list. Was that at the request of Washington, or hasn't the ICO got around to noticing Stasi Nummer Zwei yet?

[Chris G]

Re: Spy agencies

I think FB is just the money making wing of the NSA.

That would explain the Zuckerborg attitude to Congress and Parliament.

[Andy The Hat]

"... a suicidal person died before police found them, ... IPCO said after investigating it had "notified the affected person of the fact of the serious error," "

Does the ICPO actually own a Ouija board? Ok so that's a bad joke but did the IPCO investigate itself after this travesty and if not, why not?

[phuzz]

"Laying the report before Parliament on Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a written statement[...]"

I initially read that as "Lying before Parliament"...