The Albanian government has proposed changes to legislation on state police that would allow the police to wiretap, track, photograph, and surveil citizens without a warrant from the prosecution office.
This kind of police surveillance may last up to 3 months, and be extended once for another three.
The current legislation stipulates that wiretapping, audio and video recording, and listening in on telephone conversation may only take place with the authorization of a prosecution office. An authorization is only granted in cases which “based on available evidence, it is suspected that someone has committed a crime or is planning on committing a crime and this criminal activity cannot be uncovered or prevented in other ways.”
The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office has opposed the government’s proposal as a “serious violation of human rights.”
