Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Bahrain: MPs have argued that wire taps should be permitted only with a court order, opposing the NRA which wants traffic data retention

[Gulf daily news] MPs sent a strong warning to authorities yesterday not to tap people's phones without a court order.

They objected to proposed new Telecommunications Regulatory Authority regulations, which will compel telecom companies to keep records of everyone's telephone calls, emails and Internet activity.

MPs urged the government in an urgent proposal yesterday to amend the proposed regulations to ensure that no-one is spied without a court order.

Parliament foreign affairs, defence and national security committee chairman Shaikh Adel Al Mo'awada described the move as a setback to the country's democratic reforms, which promote the respect of personnel freedom.

"I don't think that anyone would like having his conversation with his family members being listened to," he said.

"The authority's decisions are wrong and should be stopped and hopefully through this urgent proposal we would have the government oblige itself not to spy on people unless a court allows them to do so."

Uproar over plans to tap phone calls

No comments: