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Knesset gives green light for phone taps on security officials

July 5, 2017 at 11:15 am

Israel’s Knesset (Parliament) Defence Committee has given the green light for the Shin Bet internal security agency to install phone taps to monitor the calls of its own officials in possession of sensitive intelligence information, local media reported on Tuesday.

The committee approved a bill allowing the head of the agency to monitor telephone usage by senior security officials and others. Apps such as WhatsApp, text messages, social media and emails are also being covered in an attempt to prevent the leak of sensitive information.

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The bill allows such infringement of privacy on two occasions for a month. If further time is required, then the approval of the government’s judicial advisor must be sought.