Facts

In a debate in the House of Lords on the use of spyware, Cabinet Minister Lord True said: “Our intelligence agencies are governed by a robust regulatory framework to ensure that any capabilities are always used in a way that is legal, necessary and proportionate – something we ask of all nations.”

Just two months earlier, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) had ruled that the UK government’s bulk interception of communications powers violated the right to privacy and freedom of expression. 

When we contacted the Cabinet Office about Lord True’s claims, it said: “We have nothing further to add to Lord True's comments made in the House.”

Verdict

Lord True’s claim that the capabilities of intelligence agencies are “always used in a way that is legal, necessary and proportionate” was false.

We approached Lord True for comment, but no reply.