Seven Internet service and communications providers from around the world filed a legal complaint today, calling for an end to GCHQ’s attacking and exploitation of network infrastructure in order to unlawfully gain access to potentially millions of people’s private communications.

The complaint, filed by Riseup (US), GreenNet (UK), Greenhost (Netherlands), Mango (Zimbabwe), Jinbonet (Korea), May First/People Link (US), and the Chaos Computer Club (Germany), along with Privacy International, is the first time that internet and communication providers have taken collective action against GCHQ’s targeting, attacking and exploitation of networks maintaining communications infrastructure.

Lodged today in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, the claimants assert that GCHQ’s attacks on providers are not only illegal, but are destructive, undermine the goodwill the organisations rely on, and damage the trust in security and privacy that makes the Internet such a crucial tool of communication and empowerment. The claimants are demanding an end to such exploitation of Internet and communication services, the targeting of their systems administrators and protections for their users whose rights may have been infringed.

Links:

• [0] Press statement (pdf)
• [1] Full test of the final grounds (pdf)
• [2] Complaint at the European Court of Human Rights
• [3] NSA-GCHQ Snowden leaks: A glossary of the key terms