Cabinet to mull laws on online bugging

The Government is to be briefed in the coming weeks on forthcoming laws giving law enforcement agencies powers to intercept email and internet communications.

The measures are contained in proposed legislation to legally underpin online bugging — powers already in place in relation to telephone communications.

In a development since the new powers were mooted last November, the Department of Justice said it was considering “enhancing safeguards” in terms of the granting and monitoring of the system.