UK security and intelligence services can no longer rely on ‘general warrants’ for bulk computer hacking

The UK High Court has held in its ruling Privacy International v Investigatory Powers Tribunal [2021] that the issuance of general warrants to authorise property interference and certain forms of computer hacking is not permitted; quashing a decision by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). In particular, the court stated that the government cannot search private premises without lawful authority even in the context of national security.