Britain's Spy Chief Wants More Powers To Fight terrorism

Reuters: UK spy chief calls for more powers to fight terrorism threat

* UK spies need more powers over communications, MI5 chief
* Shares FBI director's fears of suspects "going dark"
* UK due to bring in new laws later this year
* Syrian migrants not a "main focus of threat" (Adds uk internet industry response)

LONDON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Britain's security agencies need greater powers to deal with a growing terrorism threat and the advanced technology being used by militants, the head of the country's domestic spy service said on Thursday in the first live media interview by an MI5 chief in its 106-year history.

Prime Minister David Cameron's government plans new laws later this year to bolster surveillance capabilities of spies and police, but faces a battle from privacy and human rights campaigners who say such measures represent an assault on freedoms.

In an interview with BBC radio, MI5 Director General Andrew Parker said Britain was facing its most serious terrorism threat since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and had foiled six attempted attacks in the last year.

More News On Britain's Spy Chief Wanting More Powers To Fight Terrorism

In First Live Interview, Britain’s MI5 Chief Seeks More Powers to Fight Terrorism -- NYT
Social media companies have ‘ethical duty’ to shop terrorists, says MI5 chief as he demands more powers to snoop Facebook and WhatsApp messages -- Daily Mail
U.K. Spy Chief Reiterates Call For Web Firms To Pass On More Intel -- Tech Crunch
MI5 chief says keeping track of terrorists is getting harder -- Mashable
The Guardian view on counter-terrorism legislation: too important to rush -- Guardian editorial