The Interior Ministry has issued three decrees that now allow to collect information about the “political opinions”, “philosophical or religious convictions” and “labour union membership” of individuals followed by the government for representing potential threats to the state.
Views expressed on social media will also be collected, the government confirmed.
Until now, the law only allowed to gather information about the “activities” of individuals, not opinions or beliefs.
Several labour unions have denounced the move as a dangerous step towards more “state surveillance”. Human rights organisation Amnesty International also denounced that now “not only people but groups” could be surveyed, adding that the new rules allow authorities to analyse the “lifestyle and movements” of citizens.
An appeal against these decrees was rejected by the Council of State on 4th January.
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