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| Dutch referendum: Spy tapping powers 'rejected' | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Voters in the Netherlands appear to have narrowly rejected new online data collection powers for intelligence agencies in a referendum. | |
| With about 90% of votes counted, 48.8% have rejected the powers, with 47.3% in favour. | |
| An exit poll by the national broadcaster had earlier suggested a victory for "yes". | |
| Supporters say the powers could help fight terrorism, while opponents say the law could be invasion of privacy. | |
| Prime Minister Mark Rutte promised to take the vote seriously. Although the result is non-binding a no-vote would need to be taken into account by the government. | Prime Minister Mark Rutte promised to take the vote seriously. Although the result is non-binding a no-vote would need to be taken into account by the government. |
| What are the Dutch voting on? | What are the Dutch voting on? |
| The Netherlands put to a referendum new legislation, officially the Intelligence and Security Law. | The Netherlands put to a referendum new legislation, officially the Intelligence and Security Law. |
| The bill gives new powers to the Netherlands' intelligence services. | |
| They would be able to install wire taps on whole areas, rather than just individuals, store information for up to three years and share this data with other spy agencies. | They would be able to install wire taps on whole areas, rather than just individuals, store information for up to three years and share this data with other spy agencies. |
| An independent panel would have to approve these wire taps before they could go ahead. | An independent panel would have to approve these wire taps before they could go ahead. |
| Both the lower and upper chambers of the Netherlands parliament passed the law last year, but a "no" vote would force them to re-debate it. | |
| The referendum coincided with municipal elections around the country. | The referendum coincided with municipal elections around the country. |
| Why the controversy? | Why the controversy? |
| From its introduction, opposition politicians, legal experts, civil rights organisations and journalists have come out against it. | From its introduction, opposition politicians, legal experts, civil rights organisations and journalists have come out against it. |
| There are complaints the powers go too far, could be a violation of privacy and do not have enough oversight. | There are complaints the powers go too far, could be a violation of privacy and do not have enough oversight. |
| A lawsuit is reportedly in progress claiming the new powers break human rights laws, while Amnesty International has condemned the law in its annual report on the country. | A lawsuit is reportedly in progress claiming the new powers break human rights laws, while Amnesty International has condemned the law in its annual report on the country. |
| But Mr Rutte has insisted the spy agencies need these new powers to help fight terrorism. | But Mr Rutte has insisted the spy agencies need these new powers to help fight terrorism. |
| "It's not that our country is unsafe, it's that this law will make it safer," he said. | "It's not that our country is unsafe, it's that this law will make it safer," he said. |
| Intelligence services head Rob Bertholee said: "This law is for the safety of the Netherlands and for the Dutch people... I am voting in favour." | Intelligence services head Rob Bertholee said: "This law is for the safety of the Netherlands and for the Dutch people... I am voting in favour." |