MPs consider Bill to access private communications

Ethiopia's House of Peoples’ Representatives is considering a Bill that would empower investigators to intercept communications and correspondence without judicial authorisation. This authority would be applicable in specific cases involving proceeds of crime related to counterfeiting or financing terrorism activities, the Addis Standard reports. The proposed legislation seeks to supersede the existing Criminal Proceeds of Crime & Terrorism Financing Prevention & Control Act. Furthermore, the draft legislation contemplates the utilisation of additional investigative methods – including the surveillance of bank accounts and analogous financial records, the identification of computer systems and the analysis of network servers. The draft Bill also acknowledges undercover operations as a permissible investigative technique. The prevailing decree restricts investigative bodies from employing investigative techniques without a court order, permitting such actions only upon the prosecutor’s authorisation. Under the new Bill, during circumstances of exigency, an investigative body may gather evidence through investigative methods without a court order, provided they secure the prior approval of the relevant chief prosecutor within the jurisdiction.