The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), representing over 450 companies in various sectors, has expressed concerns about the proposed revisions to the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) notices regimes in a letter to the Home Secretary. SIIA supports law enforcement’s efforts to combat criminal activity but believes that the proposed changes would have severe negative consequences.

One of the main issues raised by SIIA is the requirement for pre-clearance of new technologies by the Home Office. This could stifle technological development, particularly privacy-enhancing technologies like end-to-end encryption, which are crucial for consumer safety and cybersecurity. The uncertainty surrounding approval may discourage investments in these technologies, limiting their availability to British residents and potentially undermining privacy and safety worldwide.

The proposed revisions may force non-UK-based companies to comply with changes that affect their products globally, such as providing a backdoor to end-to-end encryption. This could have disastrous consequences for consumer privacy and cybersecurity, and multinational companies might opt to withdraw from the UK market to avoid conflicts with other jurisdictions’ regulations.

Another concern raised by SIIA is the proposal to require immediate compliance with a notice, even before completing the review process. This removes critical safeguards and could lead to unworkable outcomes, where companies are forced to act without proper assessment of the feasibility and impact of the notices.

SIIA warns that these changes may weaken consumer rights and freedoms, harm technological development, and threaten global cybersecurity. The association believes that such revisions could be exploited by malicious actors and could set dangerous precedents for other governments worldwide.

SIIA urges the Home Office to reconsider the proposed revisions and take into account the potential negative consequences on consumer privacy, security, and technological innovation. The association seeks a balanced approach that ensures law enforcement’s objectives while preserving individual rights and a healthy information environment.