Swiss voters approve new surveillance law

Voters in Switzerland have supported a new surveillance law which provides the country’s security apparatus with enhanced powers to fight terrorism and cyber crimes.

The final results of the referendum, which was conducted on Sunday, showed that 65.5 percent of the participants voted in favor of the proposed law.

The voter turnout was only 43 percent of the total number of the registered voters.

The new law will allow Swiss police and intelligence agencies to conduct phone tapping and email surveillance that were previously prohibited, regardless of the circumstances.

Switzerland has had limited investigative tools compared to other countries.

The law was passed by the Federal Assembly last year but has not been enacted yet, because political parties in the Central European country collected enough signatures to force a referendum on the measure.

Under the law, intelligence services in Switzerland, if authorized by a federal court, would be allowed to listen to phone conversations, intercept emails, keep tabs on internet activity, and deploy hidden cameras and microphones to monitor suspects who are deemed a clear threat.

Proponents argue that it could help provide further protection against cyber crime and impede terrorism, while opponents maintain that it would damage civil liberties.

"This is not generalized surveillance," lawmaker and Christian Democratic Party Vice President Yannick Buttet said as results were coming in.

"It's letting the intelligence services do their job," he told public broadcaster RTS.

SS