Police created 'intelligence profile' of BBC journalist subject to phone surveillance | Computer Weekly

"The PSNI created an "intelligence profile" of Kearney, which included his date of birth, home and work addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registration, and the names of his wife and mother-in-law and people living with him, the court heard."

"Kearney, who worked for the BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight programme, was subject to a "systematic and years-long pattern" to access his journalistic sources and map his professional activity between 2006 and 2014 by monitoring his phone communications data."

"The applications were made without considering the public interest in journalism and the right of journalists to protect their confidential sources, and were disproportionate in law."

Vincent Kearney, a former BBC journalist now working for RTE, is pursuing substantial damages against the PSNI, Durham Constabulary, the Metropolitan Police Service, and the UK government for unlawful surveillance. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal heard evidence of seven police and MI5 operations that unlawfully obtained BBC and Kearney's confidential communications data. The PSNI created an intelligence profile containing personal information including his date of birth, addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registration, and family members' names. Between 2006 and 2014, authorities conducted a systematic, years-long pattern of monitoring Kearney's phone communications to access his journalistic sources and map his professional activity. Legal representatives argued the applications were made without considering public interest in journalism or journalists' rights to protect confidential sources, and were disproportionate under law.

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