The Political Inquirer

More than 1 million emails have now been sent in protest to Swedish lawmakers who two weeks ago passed sweeping legislation making it legal for the National Defense Radio Establishment to scan all phone calls, e-mails and faxes crossing Sweden’s borders, without a court order. The intelligence agency is currently allowed to spy on airborne signals, such as radio and satellite traffic, without suspicion of a crime or a court order. Opponents say the law will encroach on privacy and jeopardize civil liberties. Supporters claim it is needed to fight international crime and terrorism.

Pope Benedict XVI is visiting Australia for a Catholic celebration from July 15-20 and plans to conduct a mass at the Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse on July 20 for World Youth Day. In response to the estimated 125,000 international visitors and anticipated protests against the Pope’s visit, the police and other emergency services will be able to direct people to cease engaging in conduct that “causes annoyance or inconvenience to participants in a World Youth Day event” and failing to comply will result in arrest and a A$5,500 ($5,270) fine. The police state these are not “new laws” but existing laws dealing with crowd control at any major event. The Australian public’s not buying that excuse.

The Bitter Hinterlands wonders if they’ll be stripped searched as in Stark County, Ohio.

Sincerely,

Bitter Hinterlands