Editing GCHQ (section)

==== 2010s: Disinformation, discord and division ====
In February 2014, ''The Guardian'', based on documents provided by Snowden, revealed that GCHQ had indiscriminately collected 1.8&nbsp;million private Yahoo webcam images from users across the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/gchq-nsa-webcam-images-internet-yahoo|title=Optic Nerve: millions of Yahoo webcam images intercepted by GCHQ|date=28 February 2014|access-date=2 March 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|last1=Ackerman|first1=Spencer|last2=Ball|first2=James|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923234026/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/gchq-nsa-webcam-images-internet-yahoo|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same month NBC and [[The Intercept]], based on documents released by Snowden, revealed the [[Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group]] and the Computer Network Exploitation units within GCHQ. Their mission was cyber operations based on "dirty tricks" to shut down enemy communications, discredit, and plant misinformation on enemies.<ref name=NBCFeb14>{{cite web|title=Snowden Docs: British Spies Used Sex and 'Dirty Tricks'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/snowden-docs-british-spies-used-sex-dirty-tricks-n23091|work=[[NBC News]]|access-date=7 February 2014|date=7 February 2014|archive-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207161642/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/snowden-docs-british-spies-used-sex-dirty-tricks-n23091|url-status=live}}</ref> These operations were 5% of all GCHQ operations according to a conference slideshow presented by the GCHQ.<ref name="nbcslideshow22">{{cite web|title=The Snowden Files: British Spies Used Sex and 'Dirty' Tricks|url=http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/snowden_cyber_offensive2_nbc_document.pdf|website=NBC News Investigations|publisher=NBC|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112222153/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/snowden_cyber_offensive2_nbc_document.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Soon after becoming Director of GCHQ in 2014, [[Robert Hannigan]] wrote an article in the ''[[Financial Times]]'' on the topic of [[internet surveillance]], stating that "however much [large US technology companies] may dislike it, they have become the command and control networks of choice for terrorists and criminals" and that GCHQ and its sister agencies "cannot tackle these challenges at scale without greater support from the private sector", arguing that most internet users "would be comfortable with a better and more sustainable relationship between the [intelligence] agencies and the tech companies". Since the [[2013 global surveillance disclosures]], large US technology companies have improved security and become less co-operative with foreign intelligence agencies, including those of the UK, generally requiring a US court order before disclosing data.<ref name="ft-20141103rh">{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/c89b6c58-6342-11e4-8a63-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/c89b6c58-6342-11e4-8a63-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=The web is a terrorist's command-and-control network of choice |author=Robert Hannigan |newspaper=Financial Times |date=3 November 2014 |access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref><ref name="ft-20141103">{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4a35c0b2-636e-11e4-9a79-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4a35c0b2-636e-11e4-9a79-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Tech groups aid terror, says UK spy chief |author=Sam Jones and Murad Ahmed |newspaper=Financial Times |date=3 November 2014 |access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref> However the head of the UK technology industry group [[techUK]] rejected these claims, stating that they understood the issues but that disclosure obligations "must be based upon a clear and transparent legal framework and effective oversight rather than, as suggested, a deal between the industry and government".<ref name="telegraph-20141104">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/11208999/Tech-giants-reject-GCHQ-boss-Robert-Hannigans-call-for-deal-with-government.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/11208999/Tech-giants-reject-GCHQ-boss-Robert-Hannigans-call-for-deal-with-government.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Tech giants reject GCHQ boss Robert Hannigan's call for deal with government |author=David Barrett |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=4 November 2014 |access-date=5 November 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2015, documents obtained by ''[[The Intercept]]'' from US [[National Security Agency]] whistleblower [[Edward Snowden]] revealed that GCHQ had carried out a mass-surveillance operation, codenamed [[Karma Police (surveillance program)|KARMA POLICE]], since about 2008.<ref name="Karma">Ryan Gallager, [https://theintercept.com/2015/09/25/gchq-radio-porn-spies-track-web-users-online-identities/ Profiled: From Radio to Porn, British Spies Track Web Users' Online Identities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910193008/https://theintercept.com/2015/09/25/gchq-radio-porn-spies-track-web-users-online-identities/ |date=10 September 2021 }}, ''The Intercept'' (25 September 2015).</ref> The operation swept up the [[IP address]] of Internet users visiting websites, and was established with no public scrutiny or oversight. KARMA POLICE is a powerful spying tool in conjunction with other GCHQ programs because IP addresses could be cross-referenced with other data.<ref name="Karma"/> The goal of the program, according to the documents, was "either (a) a web browsing profile for every visible user on the internet, or (b) a user profile for every visible website on the internet."<ref name="Karma"/>

In 2015, GCHQ admitted for the first time in court that it conducts computer hacking.<ref>Croft, Jane (1 December 2015) [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7e9d93b2-9832-11e5-9228-87e603d47bdc.html UK spy agency GCHQ admits it carries out computer hacking] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203223413/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7e9d93b2-9832-11e5-9228-87e603d47bdc.html |date=3 December 2015 }}. ''Financial Times''</ref>

In 2017, US Press Secretary [[Sean Spicer]] made allegations that GCHQ had conducted surveillance on US President [[Donald Trump]]. These unfounded claims were based on statements made during an opinion piece in a FOX media segment.<ref>Farrell, Henry (16 March 2017) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/03/16/sean-spicer-just-suggested-that-obama-used-british-intelligence-to-spy-on-trump-not-so-much/ Sean Spicer just suggested that Obama used British intelligence to spy on Trump. Not so much] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317020548/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/03/16/sean-spicer-just-suggested-that-obama-used-british-intelligence-to-spy-on-trump-not-so-much/ |date=17 March 2017 }}. ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref>Blake, Aaron (16 March 2017) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/16/sean-spicers-angry-lonely-defense-of-trumps-wiretapping-claim-annotated/ Sean Spicer's angry, lonely defense of Trump's wiretapping claim, annotated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317053939/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/16/sean-spicers-angry-lonely-defense-of-trumps-wiretapping-claim-annotated/ |date=17 March 2017 }}. ''The Washington Post''</ref> The US government formally apologised for the unfounded allegations and promised they would not be repeated.<ref>{{cite news|title=US makes formal apology to Britain after White House accuses GCHQ of wiretapping Trump Tower|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/17/us-makes-formal-apology-britain-white-house-accuses-gchq-wiretapping/|access-date=17 March 2017|work=The Telegraph|date=17 March 2017|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322064105/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/17/us-makes-formal-apology-britain-white-house-accuses-gchq-wiretapping/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=White House apologizes to British government over spying claims|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/17/politics/gchq-trump-wiretap-denial/|access-date=17 March 2017|publisher=CNN|date=17 December 2017|archive-date=18 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318003415/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/17/politics/gchq-trump-wiretap-denial/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/16/gchq-denies-wiretap-claim-trump-obama |title=GCHQ dismisses 'utterly ridiculous' claim it helped wiretap Trump &#124; US news |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=13 April 2017 |date=17 March 2017 |archive-date=21 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421154146/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/16/gchq-denies-wiretap-claim-trump-obama |url-status=live }}</ref>

British intelligence did gather information relating to Russian [[Links between Trump associates and Russian officials and spies|contacts made by Trump's campaign team]] in the run-up to his election, which were passed on to US intelligence agencies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/13/british-spies-first-to-spot-trump-team-links-russia |title=British spies were first to spot Trump team's links with Russia |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=13 April 2017 |date=13 April 2017 |last1=Harding |first1=Luke |last2=Kirchgaessner |first2=Stephanie |last3=Hopkins |first3=Nick |archive-date=13 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413135157/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/13/british-spies-first-to-spot-trump-team-links-russia |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=British intelligence passed Trump associates' communications with Russians on to US counterparts|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/13/politics/trump-russia-british-intelligence/index.html?sr=twpol041317trump-russia-british-intelligence0910PMVODtopLink&linkId=36496320|access-date=14 April 2017|publisher=CNN|date=14 April 2017|archive-date=15 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200602/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/13/politics/trump-russia-british-intelligence/index.html?sr=twpol041317trump-russia-british-intelligence0910PMVODtopLink&linkId=36496320|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 31 October 2018, GCHQ joined [[Instagram]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/gchq/|title=GCHQ (@gchq) • Instagram photos and videos|website=www.instagram.com|language=en|access-date=1 November 2018|archive-date=14 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514145303/https://www.instagram.com/gchq/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/31/gchq-uses-instagram-to-open-up-secret-world-of-espionage-to-public|title=GCHQ uses Instagram to 'open up world of espionage' to public|last=Weaver|first=Matthew|date=31 October 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=1 November 2018|archive-date=31 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031234851/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/31/gchq-uses-instagram-to-open-up-secret-world-of-espionage-to-public|url-status=live}}</ref>