Spanish Authorities Consider Law to Wiretap Homes: Reports

New draft of Spain's Law of Criminal Prosecution will authorize the installation of cameras and microphones in locations of persons under investigation, surveillance device use would be permitted if the investigation is regarding offenses against minors, against criminal or terrorist organizations.

MOSCOW, December 5 (Sputnik) — A new draft of Spain's Law of Criminal Prosecution would authorize the installation of cameras and microphones in the private homes of those under investigation, ABC reported on Friday.

According to the newspaper, social media intervention and message interception by Spanish authorities has remained unregulated. The new law would allow for the legality of interception of mobile messaging apps, as well as email. A three-month interception period, with a possibility of an extension of the same duration, of regular mail and telegram is also stipulated if authorized by a judge.

Judges would also have to authorize the installation of cameras and microphones, as well as the necessary entry into a home to install those devices.

Under the new law surveillance device use would be permitted if the investigation is regarding offenses against minors, against criminal or terrorist organizations, and "others which, given the circumstances of the case, could be considered especially grave."

Agents of the Federal Judicial Police would also be able to legally use fictitious profiles and identities on the Internet in order to facilitate an investigation, the report states.

The draft is expected to be approved by Spain's Cabinet of Ministers on Friday.

The European Court of Human Rights and the country's Constitutional Court have consistently urged reform on the interception of private communications, stating the need for a more precise legislation of a person's right to privacy.