ISPs, communication firms file legal complaint over UK GCHQ spying

Seven Internet service and communications providers worldwide have filed a legal complaint against the UK's spy agency GCHQ in light of the Snowden revelations.

The complaint was filed on July 2 by US firms RiseUp and May First/People Link, the UK's GreenNet, Netherlands-based Greenhost, Zimbabwe's Mango, Korean firm Jinbonet, Germany's Chaos Computer Club and Privacy International in collective action against GCHQ's intelligence activities.

The organizations say they are 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 was filed with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an organization that investigates complaints against public bodies. The claimants assert that GCHQ's "attacks on providers" are not only illegal, but are destructive and undermine the "goodwill organisations rely on."

In addition, the claimants say that the government's actions have damaged trust placed in security and privacy. GCHQ and the NSA's network exploitation and intrusion capabilities, including covert data injections, also come under fire within the complaint.