Sulu Sou asks for suspension of interception legislation

Lawmaker Sulu Sou has asked the government to temporarily suspend the telecommunication interception legislation in a written inquiry to the government.

Sou said that, “in practice, there is still a lack of clear and strong monitoring mechanisms, especially self and public monitoring, to ensure that the police’s interception power will not be abused.”

Sou noted that the court does not have the capacity to supervise the police’s interceptions, since only the specific judge of any given interception request can know about the interception.

The lawmaker also noted that “the judges objectively cannot ensure that the police’s words are all facts, […] moreover, it is impossible [for the judges] to constantly monitor whether the police have exceeded the scope of the approved monitoring.”

“The current judicial monitoring mechanism is not perfect. The judges have no supervision regarding the monitoring, and can only listen to the police’s unilateral statement. […] It is difficult for the courts and the public to detect and prove illegal interception,” Sou wrote.

“Does the administration authority admit that its allegations have been misleading the public? Is there any specific method within the administration party to monitor […] illegal interception? What are the guidelines and procedures for using an interception? Is there an independent third party other than the investigator to confirm that [the police] has obtained the judge’s approval prior to the interception?” Sou asked.

“Will the administration suspend the relevant legislative proposals until a formal and strong internal, judicial and public monitoring mechanism is formally proposed?” Sou wrote in his inquiry.