The Dutch elections board has confirmed the 'no' vote won in the referendum over the new intelligence services law. With 49.44 percent of voters against versus 46.53 percent for the law, the government will be required to reconsider the legislation that would have given the intelligence services greater surveillance powers.
The final result was in line with initial exit polls. In total 6.73 million people voted in the referendum, equal to 51.54 percent of the electorate. The interior minister said it is still reflecting on the next steps for the legislation.
Aleid Wolfsen, head of the data protection regulator AP, said after the initial result that the government needs to amend the law in line with the AP's earlier recommendations. Talking to BNR Nieuwsradio, Wolfsen said there are three areas of concern: the powers allocated by the law, oversight and relations with foreign countries. He called for the government to set stricter rules for what the intelligence services AIVD and MIVD can do and impose stronger oversight.
