Finland Times

According to the report, the chairpersons would not support mass surveillance of communication even if it is in the name of national security.

The parliamentary group chair of the main opposition Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland), Antti Lidtman said Finland should take seriously the examples of countries where extensive non-targeted surveillance of networks has not produced successful results.

The newspaper asked the chairpersons of their views on the Swiss model in which it first defines the target and then begins executing the intelligence. The citizens may be able to check the information for themselves from the intelligence services and the intelligence services will be strictly controlled.

Lidtman considered the Swiss model rational and according to him it would seem to produce desired results.

The vice chair of the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party), Outi Mäkelä was the only one who was of the view that the screening may be necessary.

“The preparation of the Finnish intelligence legislation should seek a balance between a wider targeted surveillance and non-targeted surveillance,” said Mäkelä.

The Finnish intelligence legislation is currently undergoing reform.