Read the initial assessment issued by the UK NCP concluding the specific instance - 11 July 2014
In November 2013, the UK NCP received a request for review from an NGO alleging that six companies, who were either UK based or US multinationals with UK operations, had breached the general policies provisions of the Guidelines in the United Kingdom.
More specifically the NGO alleges that the companies had collaborated with UK Government security services in facilitating access to undersea fibre optic cables that the companies own, operate or control, and by this collaboration had contributed to an infringement on the human right to privacy. The NGO was also pursuing proceedings in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) against the UK government services concerned.
The UK NCP undertook an initial assessment during the course of which it contacted the companies and received responses to the allegations from each one. These responses are listed in the NCP's initial assessment. After finalising the initial assessment the UK NCP concluded that the specific instance did not merit further consideration as the NGO was not able to substantiate the allegations.