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Swiss Intelligence Service to Gain More Powers Amid Extremism Fears
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Conflict & Security

Swiss Intelligence Service to Gain More Powers Amid Extremism Fears

From Neue Zürcher Zeitung · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Switzerland's National Council is debating a revision of the Intelligence Service Act to grant the service more powers.
  • The proposed changes aim to better monitor violent extremists amid concerns over global instability and foreign influence.
  • While some parties support strengthening the service's early warning capabilities, others raise concerns about potential infringements on fundamental rights.

Switzerland's National Council is considering a significant overhaul of its Intelligence Service Act, driven by a perceived increase in global threats and domestic extremism. Lawmakers debated granting the Federal Intelligence Service (NDB) enhanced capabilities to monitor violent extremists, a move supported by parties emphasizing national security.

The world has become as it used to be: dangerous. And Switzerland is sleeping, as always, the sleep of the righteous.

— Jean-Luc AddorSVP National Councillor Jean-Luc Addor's statement at the beginning of the debate on the revision of the Intelligence Service Act.

The debate highlighted a stark division, with conservative parties advocating for expanded powers and left-leaning parties expressing concerns about potential impacts on civil liberties. The latter group drew parallels to past surveillance scandals, arguing for organizational and personnel improvements within the NDB rather than increased monitoring powers.

It is right to strengthen the early detection of threats such as terrorism, espionage and cyberattacks.

— Fabian MolinaFabian Molina of the SP party's statement on the revision of the Intelligence Service Act.

Despite these reservations, proposals from the SP and Green parties aimed at limiting additional surveillance competencies were rejected. The push for a stronger intelligence service comes in response to a volatile international landscape, including the war in Europe, escalating tensions in the Middle East, and concerns about the transatlantic alliance. NDB chief Serge Bavaud recently described the threat level as "unprecedented."

The world is again as it used to be: dangerous. And Switzerland is sleeping, as always, the sleep of the righteous.

— Jean-Luc AddorSVP National Councillor Jean-Luc Addor's statement at the beginning of the debate on the revision of the Intelligence Service Act.

The current intelligence law dates back to the mid-2000s, a period dominated by the threat of Islamist terrorism. Today's security challenges are more complex, encompassing foreign influence operations, espionage, a rise in extremist ideologies, and a heightened readiness for violence. The proposed revisions seek to equip the NDB to better address these evolving threats.

It is right to strengthen the early detection of threats such as terrorism, espionage and cyberattacks.

— Fabian MolinaFabian Molina of the SP party's statement on the revision of the Intelligence Service Act.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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