GCHQ has been secretly collecting bulk communications data (BCD) on the UK population since 1998. But, with responsibility for oversight split between several regulators, there was no adequate oversight until 2015, the IPT ruling revealed.
“We are not satisfied that, particularly given the fragmented nature of the responsibility apparently shared between the commissioners, there can be said to have been an adequate oversight of the BCD system, until after July 2015,” according to the 70-page judgement.
