Internet business groups, the employers’ federation and the country’s own data protection watchdog have strongly objected to a new law that extends the scope of telecoms and internet surveillance by the state well beyond existing provision for antiterrorism probes. The measures, given final parliamentary approval by the senate on Tuesday night, extend authority to gather digital information previously limited to the intelligence agencies to the defence, interior, finance and budget ministries. Apart from terrorism, information can be sought on the grounds of national security, organised crime and the protection of national economic and scientific interests. The information can be demanded without prior approval of a judge, as previously required.