McCullough Review finds PSNI failures but no 'systemic' surveillance of journalists | Computer Weekly

"The PSNI made 21 applications for communications data to identify journalists' sources without recognising the "overriding public interest" in protecting their confidentiality. The police force maintained a secret register containing the phone numbers of over 1,000 journalists and others, as part of a "defensive operation" to identify PSNI staff who had spoken to journalists. There were concerns about a PSNI operation to monitor the social media posts of investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre."

"The PSNI failed to delete data seized from journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney despite a court agreement to do so and failed to fully disclose phone surveillance against the two journalists to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT). Ten complaints - involving four lawyers, four journalists and two staff of the police ombudsman - are being investigated by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal."

"McCullough today said that he had found no basis for concerns that PSNI surveillance of journalists or lawyers was widespread or systemic following a 15-month review. "I can find no basis for any suggestion that the powers available to PSNI are being routinely abused in relation to journalists, lawyers, or others of 'special status'," he wrote in a 200-page report published today."

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) failed to comply with legal provisions during surveillance operations targeting journalists, lawyers and non-governmental organisations between 2011 and November 2024. The PSNI made 21 applications for communications data to identify journalists' sources without recognising the overriding public interest in protecting source confidentiality. A secret register held phone numbers of over 1,000 journalists and others as part of a defensive operation to identify PSNI staff who spoke to journalists. Concerns arose over monitoring of investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre's social media. The PSNI failed to delete seized data from Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney and did not fully disclose phone surveillance to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. Ten complaints are under investigation.

Read at ComputerWeekly.com