Although the majority of the Dutch public voted against the ‘sleep law’ in a referendum in 2018, tapping large-scale communications via internet cables is now technically possible. by Volkskrant† Indeed, intelligence services have already made several requests, but they have been rejected.
At the time, there was a lot of political and social discussion about the Intelligence and Security Services Act (Wiv), also known as the ‘Sleep Act’, which was enacted by critics in May 2018. The law gives broader powers to the intelligence services AIVD and MIVD. e.g. for cutting cables.
The fear was that metadata showing who people communicated with or which web pages they visited would be stored for millions of Dutch people. According to the agency, that was not true: tapping communications from a region would not suffice.
For a long time this was also not technically possible, because the cable had to be cut first. According to newspaper reports, information from regulators TIB and CTIVD and interviews with those involved, it appears that this is now happening.
AIVD and MIVD are said to have set up listening services with large international cable companies. This choice makes it technically possible to utilize much more communication from a supplier than a single cable. This makes it possible to track a neighborhood, neighborhood or even the entire neighborhood.
Intelligence agencies have already made requests
Two intelligence agencies have requested large-scale cable interception in 2021. They also received permission from the minister to do so. The TİB chief later rejected them because they were against the agreements.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said in a response to the newspaper that the deals only came out during the snapshot: cutting the cord for two hours as a discovery. This will ensure that the next phase takes place “in the most targeted manner with the least possible interference with citizens’ fundamental rights”.
Source: NU
Jason Jack is an experienced technology journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in computer science and engineering, he has a deep understanding of the latest technology trends and developments. He writes about a wide range of technology topics, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, software development, and cybersecurity.
