Introductory information about the board, how it works and the laws that apply to it.
About the Technical Advisory Board
The Technical Advisory Board (TAB) is a non-departmental public body that advises the Home Secretary on whether the obligations imposed on communications service providers (CSPs) under the terms of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)are reasonable.
Obligations of communications service providers
Section 12 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) states that CSPs can be obliged to maintain interception capability. The RIPA (Maintenance of Interception Capability) Order 2002 lists the obligations that may be placed upon a CSP, and describes the categories of service providers who are exempt.
Most companies will receive a notice listing their obligations under the law, and giving them a date by which those obligations must be carried out.
How CSPs can appeal to the board
If a CSP thinks a notice it has been served under section 12 of RIPA is unreasonable, it can refer the notice to the Technical Advisory Board. That must happen within 28 days of the notice being served.
In that appeal, the company should state why it thinks the notice is unreasonable. It may be unhappy, for example, with the actions it has been asked to carry out or the financial implications of doing the work requested.
The TAB chair may seek external advice on the issue. Once all the information has been gathered, TAB will make a recommendation to the Home Secretary.
Having considered the TAB report, the Home Secretary may withdraw the notice or issue a further notice.
TAB publications
Read the TAB code of practice and the TAB terms of reference.
