Amending the Dutch constitution

Privacy-sensitive telecommunication will be better protected in the future

On July 12, 2017, the Dutch Senate unanimously accorded the proposal of Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Plasterk better to protect the privacy of email and other privacy-sensitive telecommunication. Article 13 paragraph 2 of the Dutch Constitution states that the secrecy of telephone calls and telegraph communication is inviolable. However, given the recent overwhelming developments in the telecommunication sector, article 13 paragraph 2 needs an update.

Dutch Constitution

The proposal for the new text is as follows: “everybody is entitled to respect for the secrecy of his correspondence and telecommunications”. The procedure to change article 13 of the Dutch Constitution has been set in motion.