National Assembly: PM reaffirms commitment to privacy rights and rule of law

“The protection of freedom of expression and the right to privacy are enshrined in our Constitution. Any form of unlawful interception or tapping is a direct violation of the Constitution and of the fundamental rights and liberties enshrined therein,” said the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, today in the National Assembly, while replying to a parliamentary question regarding the interception of telecommunications.

The Prime Minister recalled that the previous government had installed, at considerable public expense, a sophisticated electronic mass-surveillance system capable of spying indiscriminately on the population. The system had enabled the interception in real time of telephone calls, emails, text messages, instant messaging services and social media communications of citizens across the country, he added.

According to Dr Ramgoolam, the surveillance system targeted all sections of society, including members of Government and Opposition, the judiciary, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens. Digital data and online activities, including interactions on social media platforms, were allegedly harvested and stored in a secret data centre for purposes unrelated to national security or criminal investigations, he said.

The Prime Minister reassured Parliament that, on his instructions, the surveillance system had been dismantled, shut down and rendered inoperable. He added that the matter constituted a serious criminal offence and that a criminal investigation is currently under way, noting that arrests have already been effected and that further arrests are expected.

Dr Ramgoolam, however, emphasised that legitimate and properly authorised covert surveillance remains necessary for the protection of national security and the investigation of crime. He pointed out that several existing laws already provide for lawful interception of telecommunications, including provisions under the Dangerous Drugs Act, the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Act, the Information and Communication Technologies Act, the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act.

The Prime Minister also informed that members of the National Assembly would soon have the opportunity to debate the forthcoming National Crime Agency Bill and accompanying legislation, which he described as among the most far-reaching reforms to the country’s law enforcement framework since independence. He outlined that the proposed legislation would address surveillance solely within the context of investigation of crime.

Dr Ramgoolam further announced that Government is considering new legislation through a future National Security Act aimed at placing the use of surveillance tools within a proper constitutional and legal framework in the interests of national security. He indicated that careful consideration is being given to the establishment of independent tools to ensure the proportionate and lawful use of such powers.

Reaffirming Government’s commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law, the Prime Minister stated that Mauritius would not be allowed to return to what he described as “an intrusive system where surreptitious eavesdropping was the order of the day.”

19 May 2026

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Topics: National Assembly