Netherlands: phone-tapping
01 September 1992
The number of phone tapping warrants issued to the Dutch police has again increased in 1991 to 2071 cases, 888 of which were drug-related. One warrant can cover several subscribers, the average being almost two per warrant. The police note that criminals show an increasing awareness of the risks of discussing sensitive matters over the phone, and many of them resort to using faxes, computer communication or encryption equipment. Cellular car phones are also popular, since they are more difficult to monitor permanently, as is the new PTT service of switching incoming calls to another subscriber, the so-called follow-me system. PTT has recently adapted this service to allow police to monitor such calls, but Justice Department officials still complain that the privatized phone company increasingly fails to take their needs into account when offering new communication services to the public. The new ISDN-network now being implemented and the Europe-wide car phone network to be opened in 1994 are mentioned as examples of "intraceable communication channels".
PTT Telecom has started logging detailed traffic data on all telephone calls, thus preparing for a new customer service to be introduced next year that will allow detailed bills listing all calls made from a subscriber's connection. Over 300,000 subscribers such as journalists, lawyers and aid services have already indicated they want to use the option of not having their number listed on other people's bills, but these data will still be kept on a database accessible by the justice department. Press representatives have already voiced concern over the possibly unlimited access of authorities to the PTT database, which will allow them to locate confidential sources of journalists and whistleblowers informing on dubious political or corruption practices.
Numbers not listed in the phone directory and secret numbers will not show up in any bill. Standard bills will only list the costs by category. Customers wanting detailed bills listing all numbers called pay 1.5p extra per call. The Dutch phone company claims the option of screening off phone numbers is unique in the world.