“Look at what Facebook, Google, Twitter and Tinder know about you, and consider whether you’re worried about the right things.”
Rob Bertholee — Head of National Intelligence Agency
“Even though it is certain the law will come into effect on May 1, critics were able to enforce a national “advisory referendum” on the issue this March. With the government under pressure, the achievement of the Dutch intelligence apparatus is a very welcome PR success.”
Max Smeets — Postdoctoral fellow in cybersecurity at the Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University
AIVD Headquarters — Zoetermeer
March 21 2018 — Dutch voters decide today whether spy agencies should have the power to install bulk taps on Internet traffic. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today
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The referendum is non-binding, but Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a televised debate on the eve of the vote his government would take the outcome seriously.
Opinion polls show Wednesday’s vote is too close to call.
“Yes” advocates say that British, French and American intelligence agencies already have greater powers and the Dutch are being left behind. [Reuters]
Digital rights group Bits of Freedom, which advises a “No” vote, says the law isn’t all bad but will lead to privacy violations and should be reconsidered.
Dutch agencies provide crucial intel about Russia’s interference in US-elections
“Hackers from the Dutch intelligence service AIVD have provided the FBI with crucial information about Russian interference with the American elections. For years, AIVD had access to the infamous Russian hacker group Cozy Bear. That’s what de Volkskrant and Nieuwsuur have uncovered in their investigation.”
REFERENCES
Dutch vote in referendum on spy agency tapping powers — Reuters
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Netherlands — Referendum on Spy Agency Tapping Powers
