Swedes back-pedal on snooping laws

THE LAND OF expensive alcohol and open sandwiches, Sweden, has decided to soften an eavesdropping law after widespread public protests.

Now it is looking like coppers who want to intercept internet and phone traffic passing through the country will have to get a court order.

The new version of the law will also specify that the National Defense Radio Establishment can eavesdrop only in cases of suspected "external military threats" rather than just suspected "external threats."

When the original law was made public in June it sparked a widespread public uproar, with critics calling it an encroachment of privacy.

All 178 lawmakers in the government's four-party center-right alliance have backed the changes. µ

L'Inq
Sydney Morning Herald