Voutsis brings up the issue of surveillance again..
The phenomenon of illegal interception of telephone communications by individuals using portable means, such as suitcases and vans, is becoming increasingly alarming. The data is further complicated by the providers' admission that ... "mobile communications networks do not perceive if their signal is intercepted in the air.".
Revealing the inability to control the extensive use of portable means of illegal surveillance by individuals - mainly businessmen and private surveillance agencies - are what the MPs - members of the Committee on Institutions and Transparency of the Parliament, heard today from the members of ADAE (Authority for Ensuring the Privacy of Communications).
As can be seen from ADAE data, the import and distribution of this equipment, which anyone can acquire, is not controlled, as a provision that was in force in the past was subsequently eliminated by Law 4070/2012 on electronic communications "by the competent authorities of the Ministry of Transport".
But why has the passage of a provision that would set rules for the movement of such equipment not proceeded? "It seems that the difficulties that would arise with the violations of the framework for free trade pushed the authorities to this" is the version given to the members of the Committee by the vice-president of ADAE, Konstantinos Maravelas. But ADAE's lawyers themselves also report that there are legal obstacles to control either at customs or in stores that have such equipment.
This was preceded by the remarks of MPs in ADAE that the phenomenon has taken on worrying dimensions, as technology allows individuals to have such equipment for monitoring landline and mobile phones.
The Authority is working on a special project and has already begun contacts with providers, who have every reason to respond, because they understand that they must be able to ensure that they protect their subscribers. ADAE will also attempt to approach manufacturing companies, in order to see how it will be possible to prevent the use of monitoring devices by individuals, mainly for mobile networks.
Suspicions of surveillance of political figures
The hearing of ADAE by the Committee on Institutions and Transparency of the Parliament was used by the Secretary of the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group, Nikos Voutsis, in order to bring up the issue of unhindered telephone communication between SYRIZA executives. Mr. Voutsis cited the Authority’s own statistics, which show a 40% to 50% increase in orders to lift secrecy for national security cases and a 15% increase for criminal cases, and pointed out that there are well-founded suspicions that “a surveillance channel has been created.” Mr. Voutsis spoke of a rapid increase in orders to lift secrecy, an increase that, as he said, reaches 70%, and wondered what significant event occurred between 2012 and 2013 to cause such a rapid increase in orders. Mr. Voutsis not only referred to recent statements by Panos Skourletis, but also told ADAE that he himself faces serious difficulties when trying to communicate with members of the Political Secretariat.
The vice-president of ADAE, however, informed Mr. Voutsis that there was no complaint regarding Mr. Skourletis that concerned a specific phone or connection. He also said that ADAE has also contacted the office of the SYRIZA president, but has not received a response. “Can you, if you are given the phone number, determine if there are traces of surveillance? Because if you can, I tell you directly that I will use it,” said Mr. Voutsis and commented that now, “any gentleman can place a communications cage outside his house and when you pass by there, all communication via phone is interrupted.” “We have problems. We have said it in every way. Forgive me, we cannot feel stupid for saying it and being told “contact the prosecutor.” When in this country there is also the precedent with the former prime minister,” he added.
Increase in declassification orders
Questions regarding the reasons for the increase in orders to lift secrecy for reasons of national security were raised by almost all members of the Institutions Committee. However, the answers they received from ADAE show that the Authority cannot carry out any checks on feasibility, only on legality, and this is a sample check. "The requests come from the EYP or the Anti-Terrorism Service or even the SDOE. The prosecutorial provisions are very concise. They only mention a number and we do not have the authority to check the applicants. The check on legality mainly consists of when the monitoring ends," said Mr. Maravelas, who, however, ruled out illegal monitoring by the Authorities, while he also said that the phenomenon seems to have disappeared for providers.
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Source: nonews-news.blogspot.gr
