Green Party opposes mass surveillance and promises to 'replace' RIPA

The Green Party unveiled its manifesto today, promising to oppose "secret unaccountable mass surveillance of the type exposed by Edward Snowden" and "replace" the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000, which empowers hundreds of UK state agencies to conduct covert surveillance on individuals.

The manifesto continues: "We do accept that government law enforcement agencies may occasionally need to intercept communications in specific circumstances. Such specific surveillance should be proportionate, necessary, effective and within the rule of law, with independent judicial approval and genuine parliamentary oversight."

In addition to the replacement of RIPA, it also pledges to support and protect internet freedom and to limit surveillance – presumably both online and offline – and data retention by government agencies. At the same time, it supports the extension of EU data protection laws and expressed opposition to "large US data-driven companies".

It would also oppose efforts to apply patents to software, limit online censorship and the "takedown of content or [online] activity". However, the manifesto is not explicit in terms of the kinds of content that may or may not be taken down – copyrighted films and music, for example.

It also pledges to "support open standards in information technology", but likewise is not explicit about what this means, such as ditching Microsoft Windows and Office in favour of Linux and Libre Office.

The Green Party also pledges to "introduce a more satisfactory law on so-called malicious comments made on social media than the blanket and crude section 127 of the Communications Act 2003". However, it is unclear how this would combine with other commitments within the manifesto, particularly in terms of "equality and diversity" commitments.

While both Conservative and Labour manifestos commit both parties to ensuring that reasonably high-speed broadband is accessible across the UK, the Green Party manifesto promises to oblige BT and other telecoms operators to provide "affordable high-speed broadband-capable infrastructure to every household and small business".

Read the IT highlights of all the major parties' manifestos:

• Conservative Party; 
• Labour Party; 
• Liberal Democrats;
• UKIP

Further reading

Conservative manifesto pledges to reintroduce communications data bill

• Public Sector
• 14 Apr 2015

Conservatives pledge to support 'eight great technologies' if they win on 7th May

• Public Sector
• 14 Apr 2015

Labour manifesto promises fast broadband for UK by 2020 and more IT-led reform of public services

• Careers and Skills
• 14 Apr 2015

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• Topics
• Public Sector
• security
• RIPA
• Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
• Green Party
• Communications Act
• manifesto