The Swedish Helsinki Human Rights Committee has added its voice in an open letter saying the proposal violates the European convention on human rights and conflicts with Sweden’s international commitments in this field.
From outside Sweden, the head of Privacy International agrees - insiting that that the proposal is contrary to the Convention. He adds that the closest comparison is with the Bush administration’s controversial surveillance measures which side-stepped the laws in the name of combating terrorism.
Most Swedish editorial writers and other opinion makers have denounced the proposal but some conclude that it seems that the center-right government coalition is determined to force it through and has warned its doubtful parliamentarians that they must follow the party line.
The major criticism is that the proposal would give the military the green light to search through incoming phone and e-mail information even where there are no suspicions against the subject.
