New Swedish spy law ‘too flossy’
p2pnet news view Politics | Freedom:- Sweden’s heavily criticised spy law isn’t specific enough and furthermore, it’s, “too flossy” in its formulation, says the Justice Center (Centrum för Rättvisa – CFR).
It also says the law’s description of the threats to be controlled and the types of communication that can be monitored are too vague, according to The Local.
“Bloggers, newspapers, unionists and even the former head of the country’s security police, Anders Eriksson, have taken up arms against the Bill, saying that it did not provide sufficient safeguards against state intrusion,” said Times Online recently, going on:
“This law is fundamentally flawed and needs to be completely rewritten,” it has him saying, “this is not just a matter of including a few checks and balances.”
Now the Swedish government will have to defend its new surveillance law at the European Court of Human Rights in a case filed by an independent law organization, says The Local, going on:
“Specifically, CFR contends the measure, which was narrowly approved by the Riksdag last month, violates Article 8 and Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights and has asked for judicial guidance.
“Article 8 of the convention guarantees citizens’ right to privacy, while Article 13 deals citizens’ ability to hold national authorities to account for possible violations of the human rights convention.”
CFR. “is also concerned over the lack of rights that a Swedish citizen has to the information collected on them,” says the story.
The spy law echoes the Bush administration’s, “controversial surveillance measures which side-stepped the laws in the name of combating terrorism,” said Radio Sweden just before the law went through.
“The major criticism is that the proposal would give the military the green light to search through incoming phone and e-mail information even where there are no suspicions against the subject,” it said.
The Swedish journalists’ union characterised the bill as the, “final nail in the coffin of democracy”.
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.Stumble It!
heavily criticised spy law – Sweden’s new Big Brother spy law, June 20, 2008
Times Online – Sweden’s contentious ‘Big Brother’ law gets the go-ahead, June 19, 2008
The Local – Snoop law to be tried in European court, July 15, 2008
Radio Sweden – Criticism Mounts Against Swedish Surveillance Proposal, June 17, 2008
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July 15th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
The Bush administration started this whole crazy communistic security/secrecy patriot act type mass invasion of privacy with their terrorism pretense. It paved the way for other nations to follow in spying on their own citizens. They seek to get acceptance from the masses by rousing their nationalistic fervour. These then convince themselves that their govt is sincere and honest about it, and go on to defend it to anyone who would dare question the motives. They become brainwashed into the concept that if people have nothing to hide, they should not fear it. Thus they become accepting of all their communications being monitored and recorded, their home invaded by bugs and pinhole videocameras in their bedrooms, bathrooms, toilet, and living areas. They just don’t get it, and their govt revels in wonderment at their ignorance and gullibility. They never realize the truth; that it is for power and control, and the ability to quash any rebellion against govt self-interest. After all, if you are not aligned with them, you must be a traitor, terrorist, or terrorist sympathizer, right? Obvious propaganda to anyone with half a brain.
Here we are with another country trying to implement a patriot act, poorly conceived and prematurely constructed. Not to worry, they’ll go the way of all human govts sooner or later. None have ever succeeded. Trying to install democracy in Iraq. What a disaster. That’s another result of the patriot act. The freedom to “acceptably” invade any other countries of choice in the name of terrorism labelling it a pre-emptive strike.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Come to England if you want to see cameras. Soon there will be more cameras than people. What a great place to live (I think not).