PACE adopts draft resolution on mass surveillance
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted on Tuesday a draft resolution accusing spying agencies of wasting resources on mass surveillance instead of more effective techniques to prevent terrorism, Sputnik reported.
The resolution followed a debate on surveillance practices in the light of revelations by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
"The @CoE Assembly votes in favour of the resolution on 'Mass surveillance' by 132 votes to 4, with 9 abstentions," PACE said on Twitter.
The document states that PACE recognizes the need for "effective, targeted surveillance of suspected terrorists or their organized criminal groups."
Large-scale surveillance activities do not appear to have helped to prevent terrorist attacks, the resolution stresses.
"Instead, resources that might prevent attacks are diverted to mass surveillance, leaving potentially dangerous persons free to act," the document reads.