Key questions about the Investigatory Powers Bill

The proposed legislation will govern the surveillance powers of the police and intelligence agencies Credit: PA

The draft Investigatory Powers Bill is due to be published on Wednesday.

What exactly is the Investigatory Powers Bill?

It's proposed new legislation intended to cover the surveillance powers of the police and intelligence agencies in the digital age.

It concerns, among other things, the interception of people's electronic communications.

Or according to the government, "the ability of intelligence agencies and law enforcement to target online communications of terrorists, paedophiles and other serious criminals".

Don't we have laws for that already?

The current system of rules is seen as a bit of a patchwork granting different powers under different laws. The new draft bill brings things under one legal umbrella for the first time.

Is that it?

The existing system was dubbed "undemocratic, unnecessary and in the long run intolerable" by David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation. He called for a overhaul of the legislation.

Plus the current laws are set to expire at the end of 2016.

This all sounds rather familiar...

An earlier piece of legislation, dubbed the 'Snooper's Charter', was abandoned in 2013 after Nick Clegg, then deputy prime minister, and the Liberal Democrats withdrew support for it.

Is this one more popular then?

It's still controversial with privacy campaigners and government critics, but there are indications this bill is less problematic than its predecessor.

The government has said it will have "world-leading oversight" and sources say the the new bill drops some earlier, more sweeping, proposals, such as allow the security services full access to everyone's internet browsing history.

So what should I look out for?

Current power such as access to communications data (the who, when and where), targeted interception of electronic communications, collection of bulk data and the ability to mount IT attacks are all expected to be maintained in the new bill.

But a key question is whether or not the government accepts a recommendation that authorisation to intercept communications should be transferred to judges. Currently it sits with a Secretary of State, typically the Home Secretary.

Also keep an eye on measures linked to the retention of internet records.