Privacy International have filed an application for judicial review of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) refusal to release information about the potentially unlawful export of Gamma International’s FinFisher surveillance technology.

HMRC has categorically refused to provide any details regarding any investigation into Gamma’s export practices, arguing it is statutorily barred from releasing information to victims or complainants. The law enforcement agency denies that it has any obligation to be transparent about any activities relating to the potentially illegal exports of British surveillance technology by Gamma International.

Six month ago, PI sent HMRC a dossier of evidence that included many Citizen Lab reports showing Gamma’s potentially illegal exports and called for an investigation into their practices. Unfortunately every attempt both PI and UK Members of Parliament have made to find out what is been done since has been blocked.

View the full press release.

The detailed PI reports (Part 1 and Part 2) are also available.