Tapping requests up by 30% as threats from China and Russia grow

The intelligence agencies AIVD and MIVD are making more use of their powers to tap phones, install cameras and monitor internet traffic in response to geopolitical threats, the official watchdog has said.

The committee that authorises requests to intercept information, the TIB, said it received 4,455 applications from the two agencies last year, a 30% increase on 2023.

Personal privacy is protected by the Dutch constitution, but the agencies can be exempted “to protect national security against terrorism, cyberthreats, espionage, criminal undermining or threats to our economic security.”

In practice 96% of applications to the TIB are granted.

The committee said in its annual report that the war in Ukraine, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and the “increasing threat” from Russia and China had resulted in an increased use of interception powers.

But it voiced concern last week, along with the security watchdog CTIVD, that the AIVD was going beyond its remit on intelligence gathering.

It said the lines were becoming blurred between the AIVD and law enforcement agencies such as the police, border police and the financial investigation service FIOD.

The AIVD was seeking authority to investigate criminal activity that did not pose a threat to national security, according to the CTIVD, which has independent access to the intelligence agency’s computer systems.