Lawmakers consider Big Brother Bill

Ethiopia’s House of Peoples' Representatives is currently considering a new Bill that would empower investigators to intercept communications and correspondence without judicial authorisation. The Addis Standard reports that this authority would be applicable in specific cases involving proceeds of crime related to counterfeiting or financing terrorism activities. The proposed legislation seeks to supersede the existing Criminal Proceeds of Crime and Terrorism Financing Prevention and 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. Notably, the draft Bill also permits undercover operations as a permissible investigative technique.