Getting to the Heart of the Matter

The draft bill [proposed in Britain] explicitly includes in statute for the first time powers for the bulk collection of large volumes of communications and other personal data by MI5, GCHQ, MI6 and for their use of “equipment interference powers” – the ability to hack computers and phones around the world – for purposes of national security, serious crime and economic wellbeing.

  Guardian

In other words, an acknowledgement that terrorist prevention is not really the goal of state surveillance. Merely a good excuse. Which they apparently don't need any more.

In her statement, [Secertary Theresa] May also revealed for the first time that successive governments since 1994 have issued secret directions to internet and phone companies to hand over the communications data of British citizens in bulk to the security services.

That should relieve any fears the Brits may have.

Home Office estimates put the extra costs of storing internet connection records and the new judicial oversight regime at £245m to £250m over 10 years after the legislation comes into force in December next year. This includes £175m for the cost of storing everyone’s internet records and £60m for the extra judicial oversight.

[...]

May told MPs that the introduction of the most controversial power – the storage of everyone’s internet connection records tracking the websites they have visited, which is banned as too intrusive in the US and every European country including Britain – was “simply the modern equivalent of an itemised phone bill”.

Allow me to ask: where are they going to store this data? As far as I know, the Brits don't have a gigantic storage facility. Oh. But WE do. (There's a great knockoff website that had me going for a minute.)  And I'm sure we'll be happy to "handle" it for them.

Oh, wait.

Requires web and phone companies to store records of websites visited by every citizen for 12 months for access by police, security services and other public bodies.

So the burden of providing storage facilities falls on the web and phone companies. Nicely played.

And, that's not all.

Prime minister to be consulted in all cases involving interception of MPs’ communications.

[...]

Existing system of three oversight commissioners replaced with single investigatory powers commissioner who will be a senior judge.

A veritable coup.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.