site.btaParliament Changes Time Limits for Use of Special Surveillance Means

Parliament Changes Time Limits for Use of Special Surveillance Means

Sofia, September 17 (BTA) - The National Assembly on Thursday reduced the time limits for using special surveillance means (SSMs) when the purpose is to identify a person, and extended the time limits for SSM use for activities relevant to national security when the purpose is to prevent a serious premeditated crime falling under Chapter 1 of the Special Section of the Penal Code. This was accomplished by approving amendments to the Special Surveillance Means Act on first and second reading.

The new provisions say that when SSMs are used to identify a person, they may be used for 20 days, with an option to extend the period by 20-day increments, but not more than 60 days in total. In cases of national security, SSMs may be used for six months, with an option to extend the period by another six months.

Other proposed amendments aim to establish time limits for storing information necessary for the protection of national security, and terms and conditions for destroying such information, which can be carried out by a competent unit of the State Agency for National Security, the Defence Information Service under the Minister of Defence, or the National Intelligence Service.

The bill proposes that parliamentary oversight of SSM use should be limited to the procedures for authorizing, applying and using SSMs, and the storage and destruction of information obtained through their use.