Secret services get more powers for 'national security': 'Our knife is becoming sharper'

The Dutch government has proposed new legislation, the National Security Protection Act, to grant the country's intelligence agencies, the AIVD and MIVD, increased powers to counter growing threats such as Russian espionage, Chinese cyberattacks, and terrorism. Under the new proposal, agencies would no longer be required to obtain prior authorization for operations against identified state adversaries and extremist groups, a change officials argue is necessary to improve operational speed and agility in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. While oversight procedures will be adjusted and two existing regulators merged into a new body, the government maintains that strict legal standards will continue to apply. The legislation also formally integrates the use of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and algorithms, which are considered essential for defending national interests. Furthermore, the act establishes provisions for state emergency laws in cases of major conflicts or war, aiming to modernize the framework originally set in 2017 to better address contemporary security challenges.