The proposed law grants Israeli police unprecedented surveillance powers, further endangering Palestinians.
This statement was originally published on 7amleh.org on 28 October 2024.
7amleh warns about the repercussions of approving the proposed “Computer Data Intrusion” law, which was discussed by the ministerial committee for legislation in the Israeli government yesterday, November 28th. This law, recently presented to the Knesset by its member, Tzvika Foghel, a colleague of Minister Ben Gvir, grants the Israeli police unprecedented powers to secretly spy on and remotely search the electronic devices of citizens. The law would allow the police to use cameras and microphones in personal electronic devices, such as mobile phones and computers, and to access stored materials by installing spywares such as “Pegasus” after obtaining a court order, all without the knowledge of the device owner, under the pretext of combating crime.
This law represents a severe violation of fundamental rights, including the right to digital privacy and the protection of personal data. Granting the Israeli police the authority to use spying and surveillance tools without oversight or accountability, constitutes a clear infringement on digital rights. While the Israeli police have a previous record of using spyware, such as that provided by NSO Group, the new proposal legitimizes and grants them unprecedented powers previously reserved for intelligence agencies. It allows for the secret installation of spyware on electronic devices without restrictions, which means unlimited documentation of individuals and retrieval of all stored data, both past and future, without the knowledge of the device owner or any time limit on these powers.
Nadim Nashif, Executive Director of 7amleh, stated: “This proposed law poses an unprecedented threat to the right to digital privacy and data protection, especially for Palestinian citizens in Israel, in a context where racism and fascism are on the rise, particularly within the police led by Ben Gvir, since the onset of the genocidal war on Gaza. Empowering the police to use spying tools legally will exacerbate ongoing violations and deepen the policy of mass surveillance specifically targeting Palestinians in Israel.”
He added: “The police and the proponents of this proposal, who support Ben Gvir in the racist Jewish Power Party, claim that the aim of the law is to combat crime, but it is clear that crime under Ben Gvir has reached unprecedented levels. The only thing that concerns him is suppressing any opposing voices to the war on Gaza, and we expect these spying devices to be used against any movement opposing the policies of war and genocide in Gaza.”
