Cyprus may allow phone tapping to combat organized crime

The government of Cyprus is considering a legislative initiative that would restore the authorities’ right to conduct phone tapping and electronic surveillance as part of investigations aimed at combating organized crime. The proposed bill stipulates that access to suspects’ communications would be granted only by court order and exclusively in cases of serious criminal offenses — such as murder, terrorism, human trafficking, money laundering, and corruption.

The initial version of a similar law was adopted in 2020, but its implementation was postponed due to the lack of technical capacity among telecom operators to provide real-time monitoring. Now, according to the Ministry of Justice, the necessary infrastructure and software tools have been established, and the bill is ready to be reconsidered by parliament.

Under the proposed regulation, telecommunications companies will be required to promptly provide access to their systems for the police and intelligence services once a court order is issued. At the same time, companies must take technical and organizational measures to protect user confidentiality outside the scope of authorized surveillance.

The bill has raised concerns among human rights groups and media representatives, as it could affect freedom of expression and the right to privacy. Officials emphasize that any measures introduced must fully comply with the principle of proportionality and be allowed only by court decision in relation to individuals suspected of serious crimes.

The government has given parliament several months to assess the amendments, after which a final decision will be made on the launch of the wiretapping and electronic monitoring system.