After overcoming concerns relating to security abuses, the Swiss parliament has approved a new law giving greater powers to official intelligence services. A referendum on the issue could follow.
The bill, which has been under discussion in the two chambers of parliament over the past two weeks, aims to make it easier for intelligence services to investigate terrorism suspects.
In the legislation being proposed, the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) would be subject to control by two parliamentary commissions, the defence ministry and the cabinet.
On Wednesday however, the Senate felt that control of operations should be under an independent body associated with the defence ministry. Such an organisation would verify the legality, the appropriateness and the efficiency of the activities of the FIS.
In earlier discussions this week, the House of Representatives preferred that the defence department be in charge of regulating the secret service.
The new legislation being proposed would allow the FIS to carry out investigations in public and private spheres without the authorisation of a judge.
Furthermore, the use of drones by the official secret service may also be permitted, as would the recording of internet communications.
Proposals for the new bill initially received criticism from the left, which was concerned with abuses in the use of invasive covert activities – such as those revealed by former US National Security (NSA) employee Edward Snowden.
