Sweden mulls spying law.

• Author: Swartz, Nikki
• Position: UP FRONT: News, Trends & Analysis

The Swedish government is considering a law that would allow its intelligence agency to monitor e-mail traffic and phone calls crossing the nation's borders without a court order.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that the proposal, which must be approved by Parliament, would allow the National Defence Radio Establishment to use data-mining software to search for sensitive keywords in all phone and e-mail communications passing through cables or wires across Swedish borders. The government said only a small amount of electronic communication will be affected; however, echoing concerns over a similar program launched in the United States after 9/11, critics worry that Sweden's proposed program is too far-reaching and would threaten privacy.

Swedish government officials said they are interested only in monitoring international traffic and that e-malls and phone calls between Swedes will be filtered out.

But the proposed plan, designed to protect Sweden and its citizens from terrorists and national security threats, would give the intelligence agency more leeway. Currently, Swedish law allows only e-mail and phone traffic to be monitored if police suspect a crime and then only with court approval.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Many other European governments have been expanding their surveillance powers, wiretapping rules, and police search powers in the past few years. But, according to the AP, the Swedish proposal is among the most far-reaching when it comes to intercepting...