Folketinget, the Danish Parliament, should halt the processing of the upcoming PET law and instead establish an independent commission, argue 25 organizations and several researchers in an open letter to the government.
The commission should map the extent of the surveillance society, as the monitoring of citizens in public spaces has shifted from being the exception to becoming the norm, according to a press release.
»If the government’s proposal becomes reality, all citizens will be systematically monitored everywhere and at all times. This is a significant intrusion into our privacy and the recipe for a surveillance society«, says Birgitte Arent Eiriksson, Director of the think tank Justitia.
Among the signatories are the Danish Bar and Law Society, Danish Media, the Danish Union of Journalists, Djøf, Transparency International Denmark, the Council for Digital Security, the Telecommunications Industry, and the engineers’ union IDA, as well as several prominent researchers.
The letter points out that considerations of privacy and legal certainty are often neglected, particularly in 2025. But generally, there has been a shift in recent years.
Specifically, they highlight the forthcoming PET law, which would grant the Danish Security and Intelligence Service unprecedented powers to collect, monitor, and analyze all citizens’ personal information and digital activity.
Additionally, the use of genealogy in investigations raises fundamental questions about the use of citizens’ DNA, collected for other purposes. The security package (another government bill) also eases regulations for the installation of cameras in public spaces.
Furthermore, they point out that Copenhagen Police have recently adopted facial recognition technology.
The government believes that increased surveillance provides a greater sense of security in public spaces.
The criticism centers on the risk that increased surveillance undermines individuals’ right to privacy and compromises the trust between citizens and key societal institutions.
There is a need to step back and ask the fundamental question of where the boundaries of surveillance lie in a democratic society, the conclusion states.
»Therefore, there is a need for a pause for reflection, where we map the extent and consequences of the surveillance that is already taking place – and ensure a more balanced approach going forward«, says Birgitte Arent Eiriksson.
ritzau
