On 27 May, the newly elected UK government unveiled its legislative agenda for the forthcoming parliamentary session. In doing so, it confirmed that it will introduce a new law intended to reform the current legal framework governing the investigatory capabilities of UK law enforcement agencies.

The announcement in the Queen’s Speech merely referred to the introduction of “new legislation to modernise the law on communications data”. However, additional briefing notes released at the same time refer to an Investigatory Powers Bill covering all investigatory powers, including those relating to communications data, intended to achieve various objectives including: