Swiss Senate rejects proposed political surveillance powers

The Swiss Council of States has rejected a proposal to give the Federal Intelligence Service broader powers to collect information about people’s political activities, SRF reported. The disputed provision was removed from the bill by 24 votes to 15, with one abstention.

The Federal Council had argued that the intelligence service needs expanded powers to identify threats to Switzerland earlier and more effectively. The proposed changes to the Intelligence Service Act would have allowed it to obtain information about the political activities of individuals or organisations when this was deemed necessary for their protection.

The debate was shaped by the Fichen affair, which came to light in 1989. Authorities were found to have secretly created files containing information about the political views of more than 900,000 people, most of whom had not committed any offence. The intelligence service was subsequently subject to much stricter limits.

Green Party Council of States member Matthias Zopfi of Glarus described the legislation as a balancing act. He said some measures would significantly interfere with privacy, but argued that the intelligence service must be able to act preventively when there is a concrete risk of violence.

Opponents of the provision said it went too far. Swiss People’s Party senator Pirmin Schwander of Schwyz called it an unnecessary intrusion into fundamental rights.

The parliamentary oversight body for the intelligence service, the Business Audit Delegation, also called for the political surveillance provision to be removed. Its president, Petra Gössi of the Free Democratic Party, said the proposed rules could allow the service to collect data on all the political activities and opinions of a senator if there were indications that the politician might become a victim of espionage.

Supporters argued that threatened organisations should not receive less protection because of their political activities. Independent Zurich senator Daniel Jositsch also defended the intelligence service, saying it should not be viewed solely as an institution that wants to monitor people’s private lives.

The Federal Council’s assurances that the provision would not permit blanket monitoring failed to convince the majority of the Council of States. The bill will now return to the National Council, which supported the proposed surveillance power during its summer session.