Dialogos

Controversy Surrounds Bill Granting Surveillance Powers to Intelligence Agency

Published March 28, 2026, 07:02
Controversy Surrounds Bill Granting Surveillance Powers to Intelligence Agency

A bill concerning the Cypriot Intelligence Service (KYP) is sparking controversy, as it would allow the agency's director to monitor citizens without prior judicial approval in certain cases. MP Andreas Pasioritidis (AKEL) alleges that the government is attempting to bypass the courts, enabling a three-member committee appointed by the Cabinet to approve surveillance. Pasioritidis expresses concerns that the KYP director will be able to initiate surveillance easily, simply by "pressing a button." He emphasizes that the absence of judicial review before surveillance is problematic and highlights the importance of judicial intervention to protect individual rights. According to the bill, in some cases, the KYP would only need to seek approval from the three-member committee within 72 hours, rather than obtaining an immediate court order. Furthermore, Pasioritidis accused the president of DIKO, Nikola Papadopoulos, of attempting to silence AKEL MPs during a parliamentary committee discussion, asking them not to voice their objections as his party does not intend to vote for the bill. Pasioritidis described this action as dangerous to democracy. AKEL insists that judicial approval is essential for protecting individual freedoms and expresses concerns that the three-member committee, appointed by the executive branch, cannot provide sufficient guarantees for the protection of citizens' rights. The debate on the bill is expected to continue in the plenary session of the Parliament next week.