Technology firms' hopes dashed by 'cosmetic tweaks' to snooper's charter

New version of investigatory powers bill doesn't differ much from the old one, signalling a standoff between the government and technology sector

Here comes the new snooper's charter, same as the old snooper's charter.

Many in the technology sector had been hoping that the final version of the investigatory powers bill, released on Tuesday, would backtrack on some of the more controversial aspects of October's draft bill. But the final version, which will now be presented to parliament, contains only the mildest of tweaks, and even doubles-down on some areas.