Norway’s New Intelligence Law Legalizes Mass Surveillance
The passage of a new intelligence statute in Norway has been confirmed, which sanctions the legal mass storage of internet data of Norwegian citizens by the Intelligence Service. This newly established law supersedes the prior one from 1998 and has sparked controversy because it allows for the surveillance and retention of electronic communications traversing the Norwegian border, encompassing the majority of internet traffic within the nation. The type of data that will be archived includes metadata such as names, dates, times, geographical locations, and IP addresses, which will be kept for a period of 18 months.
The legislation faced criticism for infringing on constitutional and privacy rights, particularly from the Left Party, though it successfully passed with backing from the Progress Party, the Labour Party, and the Centre Party. According to the new rules, intelligence agencies are required to obtain approval from the Oslo court to access this data, though some critics dismiss this requirement as a mere procedural step.
The government portrays the law as an extension of current practices, adding new provisions to bolster Norway’s intelligence operations against various security threats like espionage, sabotage, and terrorism. Nevertheless, critics, including IT professionals and activists, contend that the law contravenes European law and pushes Norway closer to becoming a surveillance state. This has led to public outcry and demonstrations, particularly driven by concerns that the law was pushed through covertly amidst the distractions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The article suggests that these events are part of a wider global shift towards increased surveillance and militarization, which some view as indicative of the deterioration of democratic structures and a shift toward more authoritarian forms of governance.
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