Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
The AIVD building in Zoetermeer
The AIVD building in Zoetermeer - Credit: Photo: S.J. de Waard / Wikimedia Commons
Politics
Innovation
data mining
big data
AIVD
MIVD
Ronald Plaster
Ministry of Home Affairs
Rob Bertholee
Tweede Kamer
Wednesday, 8 February 2017 - 16:25
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Dutch parliament likely to vote in data mining law today

The lower house of Dutch parliament is debating a new data mining law that will give the Dutch intelligence services AIVD and MIVD the power to intercept data streams on large scales. The expectation is that the law will be voted in, as a majority in parliament already revealed support for the law, AD reports.

The new law gives the intelligence services the capability to intercept all forms of wire communication, including telephone, internet, email and social media. But data tapping must always have a necessary purpose and be in proportion to the threat, responsible Minister Ronald Plaster of Home Affairs said in previous discussions about the law.

For example, the AIVD can't eavesdrop on an entire city, but may tap data from specific neighborhoods if they believe a suspect is there.

The Dutch intelligence services are already allowed to perform targeted hacks on computers, for example those of terrorist suspects and the people around them. The new law gives them the capability to do more, for example intercept the emails of everyone on the same street as the suspect, or break into the suspect's brother's computer, according to AD. The services will also be able to remotely turn on webcams or microphones on computers in order to follow someone. They will also be able to break into a particular WiFi hotspot if there is reason to do so.

Before every "investigation project" the Minister needs to get permission from a review committee TIB. Who will be in the committee is not yet clear, except that it will be three people, two of whom were judges. The supervisory committee for the services, the CTIVD, will check afterwards whether the services acted correctly.

AIVD director Rob Bertholee denies that these new capabilities will turn the AIVD and MIVD into something like the United States' NSA. Plasterk emphasizes that the Dutch services need to have a reason and get permission before starting their data mining, while the NSA collects bulk data and then look at what they can do with it.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • All train traffic halted to and from Amsterdam Central Station due to malfunction
  • New push to end voluntary parent cash contribution for elementary schools
  • Rush to mega lawsuit by Pensioen Voldoen: 50,000 victims join in to claim pension losses
  • Max Verstappen wins the Spanish Grand Prix
  • Students at TU Eindhoven find safe way to store hydrogen using iron pellets
  • Minister Dijkgraaf finds day off for Keti Koti "interesting idea"

Top stories

  • All train traffic halted to and from Amsterdam Central Station due to malfunction
  • Amsterdam apartment building uninhabitable after major fire
  • Marechaussee team investigating war crimes back from Ukraine
  • Hundreds of people take part in last day of " Rule of Law Week" in The Hague
  • Major fire in apartment building in Amsterdam, hundreds of residents unable to return home
  • Peru moves Joran van der Sloot for extradition to the US, disappearance of Natalee Holloway

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content