Intelligence services to start large-scale data mining despite negative referendum

Despite a majority of Netherlands residents voting against a law to allow large-scale data mining in a referendum in 2018, the large-scale tapping of communication via internet cables is technically possible and will soon be used by the Dutch intelligence services. That breaks previous promises made by former responsible Minister Ronald Plasterk, the Volkskrant reports based on information from regulators TIB and CTIVD, and discussions with those involved. Two applications for cable data tapping made by the AIVD and MIVD last year show that the services actually want to go further than promised. According to the Volkskrant, a new legislative proposal to map digital threats will turn this type of large-scale data mining into standard practice.