UK Surveillance Program Leaked by Snowden Violated Rights, Court Says

British intelligence services breached people’s basic right to privacy with a mass surveillance operation that was brought to light by the whistleblower Edward Snowden, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on Sept. 13.

Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden speaks during an interview in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2013. The Guardian via Getty Images

BRUSSELS—British intelligence services breached people’s basic right to privacy with a mass surveillance operation that was brought to light by the whistleblower Edward Snowden in 2013, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on Sept. 13.

Judges sitting in Strasbourg, France, said GCHQ’s bulk interception of online communications was untargeted and criticized spy bosses for failing to provide sufficient safeguards when handling people’s personal data.