Switzerland to Vote on Law Boosting Intel Service Communications Monitoring

Swiss citizens are set to vote on Sunday on the law that gives the country's intelligence services more powers to gather information by monitoring people's telephone conversations and activity on the Internet.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Intelligence Service Act aims to come in place of the current legislation governing the work of the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) that "no longer takes account of the current risks," according to the official portal of the Swiss government.

According to the Swiss authorities, the intelligence services may monitor, record and analyze people's communications only under strict conditions. The new act is said to contribute to strengthening control over the intelligence service.

The referendum comes amid fears that the intelligence services could be given sweeping powers to carry out blanket surveillance violating the privacy of Swiss citizens.