Authorities can better monitor cell phone data from January 1
Published: Saturday, Dec 30th 2023, 13:30
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From the beginning of January, the Swiss authorities will have more options for monitoring internet and telephone data. For example, they will be able to find out more easily who is behind fake or anonymous telephone numbers.
This will be made possible by the entry into force of a new ordinance on the legal provisions for the surveillance of postal and telecommunications traffic on January 1, 2024. The federal government hopes that this will make law enforcement more effective.
The independent Service for the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic in Switzerland (ÜPF) orders measures relating to mobile communications, for example, in order to investigate serious crimes. Applications can be submitted by the prosecution authorities or the Federal Intelligence Service.
According to the bill, the authorities will receive new information and monitoring types from the new year. For example, a new information type will make it easier to identify fake or unknown telephone numbers of the caller or sender in the case of anonymous bomb threats.
Faster monitoring
The new monitoring types also enable more precise positioning in mobile communications for emergency searches or real-time monitoring. This helps to locate and rescue endangered persons as quickly as possible, according to the federal government.
In addition, law enforcement authorities should be able to access data more quickly. Previously, telecommunications service providers had one day to respond to a request from the authorities. This processing time was considered too long by the authorities when they made urgent requests to identify the perpetrators at weekends or on public holidays. The time limit will be reduced to six hours.
Criticism of the new regulation
The changes met with some criticism during the consultation process. Several parties, telephone providers and defenders of fundamental rights see the new ordinance as a massive expansion of surveillance. They criticized the fact that the expansion of powers would place new burdens on companies and restrict users' privacy and data protection.
The Confederation and the cantons also share the costs of monitoring according to their benefits. The federal government pays one quarter, while the cantons divide the remaining three quarters among themselves. The cantons criticized this distribution formula. The Confederation considers the distribution to be appropriate. The cantons now only pay their share of the costs once a year, which reduces the administrative burden for everyone involved.
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