BIG BROTHER WATCH AND OTHERS v. THE UNITED KINGDOM JUDGMENT Netherlands, and to the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the promotion of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. 10. A hearing took place in public in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, on 10 July 2019. There appeared before the Court: (a) for the Government Mr C. WICKREMASINGHE, Mr J. EADIE Q.C. AND Mr J. MITFORD, Mr R. YARDLEY, Ms L. MORGAN, Mr H. MAWBY, Mr T. RUTHERFORD AND Mr J. KEAY-BRIGHT, Agent, Counsel, Advisers; (b) for the applicants Mr B. JAFFEY Q.C., Ms H. MOUNTFIELD Q.C., Mr C. MCCARTHY, Mr R. MEHTA, Ms G. SARATHY AND Mr D. HEATON, Mr D. CAREY AND Ms R. CURLING, Counsel, Advisers. 11. The Court heard addresses by Mr Eadie, Mr Jaffey and Ms Mountfield, as well as their replies to questions. THE FACTS I. BACKGROUND 12. The three applications were introduced following revelations by Edward Snowden concerning the electronic surveillance programmes operated by the intelligence services of the United States of America and the United Kingdom. 13. The applicants, who are listed in the Appendix, all believed that due to the nature of their activities, their electronic communications were likely to have either been intercepted by the United Kingdom intelligence services; obtained by the United Kingdom intelligence services after being intercepted by foreign governments; and/or obtained by the United Kingdom authorities from communications service providers (“CSPs”). 3