News item | 27-03-2026 | 3:30 PM
The government gives the police more powers to prevent (possible) serious disruptions to public order. The Council of Ministers agreed to this on the proposal of Minister Van Weel of Justice and Security. With the Public Order Data Collection Act bill, the government is improving the information position of the police and the mayor. The bill now goes to the Council of State for advice.
Minister Van Weel: “Serious disruptions to public order are increasingly being instigated and organized via social media and other online platforms. It is therefore essential that the police are allowed to collect online information in order to intervene in a timely manner. With this, the government is taking a step forward in strengthening authority on the street.”
The new powers
The bill gives the police two additional powers to collect online data from publicly accessible sources. It involves collecting personal data from the public part of the internet and collecting online data from people and their public accounts. These persons must be suspected of playing an important role in a (possibly) serious disruption of public order. For example, if there are indications that riots are likely to break out, such as the Malieveld riots last September or the riots on the Scheveningen boulevard in May last year, the police can collect the necessary data online to intervene in time and prevent or stop the disruption. The police exercise these powers under the authority and responsibility of the mayor.
Guarantees
The bill contains strong safeguards because it can have a major impact on people’s lives. The mayor requires authorization from the examining magistrate to use his powers. In addition, a strict regime applies to the processing of the collected personal data.
