Cyprus parliament amends surveillance bill to require court orders

The Cypriot Parliament is debating a controversial bill concerning the surveillance of telecommunications by the Cyprus Intelligence Service (KYP) to combat organized crime and national security threats. Initially, the proposal would have allowed the head of the intelligence service to authorize wiretaps in urgent situations without a court order, subject to review by a three-member committee. This provision faced significant opposition from political parties, including AKEL, due to concerns over excessive authority. Following the realization that the required 38-vote majority for a constitutional amendment could not be met, DISY lawmaker Nikos Tornaritis submitted an amendment. This proposal removes the power to initiate surveillance without judicial oversight, ensuring that all wiretaps must be approved by a court. An extraordinary session of the Legal Affairs Committee has been scheduled for Thursday to incorporate these changes. The final text is expected to be put to a vote in the Plenary Session thereafter.