Data Privacy and Public Surveillance in the UK: A Legal Perspective Using IRAC Framework

Concerns about data privacy and public surveillance have increased in the UK as social media becomes more and more integrated into daily life. This study examines the legal and regulatory framework that controls how personal information is used and safeguarded on social networking sites, as well as the scope of legitimate government monitoring permitted by current UK legislation. The paper methodically investigates important legal concerns pertaining to mass surveillance of social media conversations and data privacy violations using the IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) approach. The research highlights important laws including the Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, which gives government agencies the legal right to conduct some types of surveillance, and the Data Protection Act of 2018, which includes the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In order to assess whether current laws fairly balance individual rights and national security, the paper applies these principles to actual situations, such as well-known court cases and legal disputes. Although the legislative system in the UK is said to offer a strong basis for data protection, there are still uncertainties and conflicts, especially with regard to the supervision and appropriateness of surveillance methods. The study comes to the conclusion that in order to improve privacy rights in the era of digital communication, greater enforcement tools, more public awareness, and more defined legal boundaries are required. This research adds to the current discussion about the right to privacy in democracies and provides information on how the law can change to meet the new problems brought about by social media monitoring.