Sigma Live

Cyprus: Government Pushes for Expanded Surveillance Powers

Published March 15, 2026, 12:11
Cyprus: Government Pushes for Expanded Surveillance Powers

The government is promoting three pieces of legislation that broaden the lifting of telecommunications privacy, allowing, in exceptional cases, surveillance with the written approval of the Attorney General without a court warrant. These legislations are linked to the CIPA and the revision of Article 17 of the Constitution, which guarantees the privacy of communication. The discussion in the Legal Committee has caused political and institutional tension, as the package of legislation constitutes a comprehensive attempt to reorganize the framework of surveillance in Cyprus.