Sweden adopts eavesdropping legislation - SC Magazine UK

Sweden adopts eavesdropping legislation - SC Magazine UK: "Sweden has adopted eavesdropping legislation which could lead to the monitoring of all phone calls, faxes and emails crossing the country's borders.

The bill, which was passed this week and is due to come into effect in January 2009, will give the National Defence Radio Establishment, a Swedish intelligence agency, the right to scan all international communications at will. Currently, the agency has to apply for a court order before intercepting communications.

The bill has caused outrage among privacy campaigners who argue that it infringes civil liberties. Protesters have been standing outside the Swedish parliament handing out copies of George Orwell's novel, 1984.

Google's global privacy counsel has also weighed in. Peter Fleischer said: 'By introducing these measures, the Swedish government is following the examples set by governments ranging from China and Saudi Arabia to the US government's widely criticised eavesdropping programme.'

Supporters of the bill say it is necessary to help counter the growing threat of terrorism."