The Dutch government has proposed a new law to give its secret services, the AIVD and MIVD, more power and freedom to act quickly. Ministers say these updates are necessary to protect the country against growing threats from nations like Russia, China, and Iran, as well as cyberattacks and terrorism.
Under the new plans, intelligence agencies will face less red tape when starting certain operations. They will also be able to get data directly from banks, online platforms, and private businesses. In the event of a major war, ministers would gain emergency powers to keep the country running, though Parliament would still have to approve this.
To balance these extra powers, the government is creating a new independent watchdog to supervise operations as they happen. The most intrusive actions—such as searching homes, collecting DNA, or intercepting data on a large scale—will still require strict advance approval.
The law also allows military intelligence to share raw data directly with the armed forces, a lesson learned from the war in Ukraine. Because these changes are so big, the government is opening the proposal for public feedback before sending it to Parliament.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
