Nicosia, Cyprus. The cabinet approved legislation on Friday to allow the monitoring of telephone conversations under strict oversight, enabling police and intelligence services to use phone tapping against organised crime. President Nikos Christodoulides said the bill would be sent to parliament without delay.
Purpose and oversight
Christodoulides said the bill would provide law enforcement with “a necessary and proportionate” tool to tackle serious criminal activity while safeguarding fundamental rights. He said the aim was crime prevention and the effective investigation of serious offences, describing the measure as a powerful weapon for authorities within strict legal conditions and judicial control.
Conditions for monitoring
The legislation allows the monitoring of telephone communications only on the basis of a court warrant and only in cases involving serious crime or national security. Authorisations would be limited in duration, targeted at specific individuals and subject to procedural safeguards to prevent abuse.
Next steps and revisions
Following cabinet approval, the bill will be forwarded to the House plenum. Christodoulides said the legal framework had been refined to address technical and legal shortcomings that prevented similar legislation passed in 2020 from coming into force.
Justice ministry safeguards
The justice ministry said the revised bill incorporates additional safeguards to ensure evidence gathered through surveillance can withstand judicial scrutiny.
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