Dutch to vote on surveillance law

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — An advisory referendum will be held in the Netherlands next year on a law giving intelligence agencies sweeping new powers to tap electronic communications, the Dutch electoral commission announced Wednesday.

The commission said 384,126 citizens signed a valid request for the referendum, easily surpassing the 300,000 threshold necessary to put the new law to a public vote. The referendum will likely be held March 21.

However, some lawmakers have said they plan to push ahead with the law, which has yet to come into force, arguing that it helps intelligence agencies in their counterterrorism efforts.

Upcoming Events