Dutch spy agencies to get more powers against foreign enemies

The Netherlands’ two intelligence agencies are to gain new powers to track and disrupt “obvious adversaries” such as Russian hackers, Chinese spies and Iranian operatives without asking permission in advance, under a draft law published by the cabinet.

The domestic intelligence service AIVD and military intelligence service MIVD would no longer need prior sign-off to follow an individual hacker online. “By then they have already gone,” said defence minister Dilan Yesilgöz.

Once a foreign service is formally designated an adversary, the agencies could pursue anyone thought to be working for it, with a watchdog checking afterwards whether their actions were lawful and able to halt operations it considers inappropriate.

The plans have raised concerns about the privacy of Dutch citizens. Yesilgöz said oversight would remain in place. “Putin and his cronies do not deserve our privacy, but the people of the Netherlands do,” she said.

The bill would also let the agencies work more closely with Dutch banks, universities and online platforms, warn them of risks and, in some cases, demand information from them. Interior minister Pieter Heerma, who is responsible for the AIVD, declined to name specific organisations.

It follows the previous cabinet’s abandoned plan to screen 8,000 foreign researchers and students for espionage risks, which was judged unworkable. Oversight of the two agencies would be merged into a single body.

The draft is open for public consultation before it goes to parliament.