Dutch Cabinet Proposes Expanded Powers for Intelligence Services

The Dutch cabinet has approved a legislative proposal to expand the powers of its intelligence services, the AIVD and MIVD. The government states that the 2017 intelligence law is outdated and that threats from countries such as Russia, China, and Iran have become more complex. The proposed law would allow agencies to act without prior permission against designated evident opponents, such as foreign actors or terrorist groups. Under these conditions, services could perform sabotage, break into systems, and conduct surveillance, with legality reviewed by a new committee after the fact. The proposal also grants broader data collection powers, allowing services to requisition data from financial institutions, online platforms, and universities. This would enable the screening of thousands of foreign students to prevent sensitive information from reaching foreign services. Additionally, the law introduces state of emergency provisions for extraordinary circumstances, such as large scale conflicts, subject to parliamentary approval. Minister of Defense Dilan Yeşilgöz stated that the law would make the services sharper. The proposal will now enter a consultation phase for public and organizational feedback before moving to the House of Representatives and the Senate for approval.