PRAGUE (Sputnik) — The amendments to the law were initiated by the Czech government in January, following a series of shooting attacks in Paris.
Justifications for expanding the powers of special services were put forward by Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and included the perception of a growing threat from violent religious extremists and the need to do more to counter organized crime.
According to the amendments, security services will be able to access suspects' bank accounts, as well as see telephone numbers in suspects' telephone conversations and other metadata, to be provided upon request by mobile operators. Along with the expansion of intelligence agency powers, parliamentarians stated their intention to strengthen control over surveillance activities.
