Surveillance of individuals based on their political and ideological preferences
16.11.2021
Priority question for written answer P-005132/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Stelios Kouloglou (The Left)
An article by the Greek newspaper Efimerida ton Sintakton[1] of 14 November 2021 revealed that the Greek National Intelligence Service (NIS) has been surveilling individuals such as civil servants, lawyers, members of humanitarian organisations, journalists, members of an investigative team[2], minors such as a 12‑year‑old refugee and public gatherings. The NIS records the ideological background and social or political activities of the individuals, such as defence of the rights of refugees and migrants or their views on vaccination.
The government spokesman said that the NIS is spying on these people because of the risk to public security from ‘internal or external threats’. Since the current government took power, the NIS has been directly under the prime minister’s office and a legislative process is under way to exempt recruitment to the service from monitoring by the relevant independent authority.
I would therefore like to ask the Commission the following questions:
- 1.What is its reaction to the revelations that ordinary people and journalists are being monitored on the basis of ideology, preferences or political and social action?
- 2.Is this type of surveillance consistent with the fundamental principles of the EU and the European way of life?