Minister proposes law to expand police powers to collect online data around protests

Demissionary Justice and Security Minister David van Weel (VVD) has proposed legislation that would give police in the Netherlands broader authority to collect information from the internet in connection with demonstrations.

Van Weel released a draft version of the bill to allow police, municipalities, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to review the proposal and provide feedback.

According to the minister, police frequently monitor the internet to assess whether protests could escalate into violence, such as when individuals plan riots. This often involves gathering personal data from publicly accessible parts of the internet. However, Van Weel said the current law does not always permit collecting such information.

Under the draft legislation, mayors would receive two additional powers to instruct police to collect online data. Before using those powers, police would be required to obtain approval from an examining magistrate.