Sweden approves warrantless wiretapping.

Sweden's Parliament has approved controversial new legislation that will give authorities sweeping powers to spy on cross-border e-mail and telephone traffic. The country's intelligence bureau, The National Defense Radio Establishment, will be able to scan domestic and international calls, faxes, and e-mails without a warrant.

According to BBC News, the measure was passed by a narrow majority after heated debate and last-minute changes in the Stockholm Parliament. It will become law in January.

While supporters contend that such measures are needed to protect national security, critics say it threatens civil liberties and represents Europe's most far-reaching eavesdropping plan.

"By introducing these new measures, the Swedish government is following the examples set by governments ranging from China and Saudi Arabia to the U.S. government's highly criticized eavesdropping program," said Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel.

The former head of the country's intelligence agency, Anders Eriksson, said the law does not safeguard individual rights and should be scrapped.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The government has said that it will filter out domestic communication and monitor only international calls, faxes, and messages, although some experts said that is impossible.

Under the new law, Sweden's intelligence bureau will no longer need a court order to begin surveillance, unlike the police.

According to The International Herald Tribune, many European countries have been increasing surveillance powers, including wiretapping and police searches, in a move to combat terror plots. However, Italy--considered one of the world's most wiretapped democracies--is said to be rethinking surveillance in order to better protect citizens' privacy.