The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) is set to gain access to extensive data on Danish citizens, including health information, under a new law intended to prevent terrorism, sabotage, and espionage. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard is attempting to address widespread criticism of the bill, which would allow PET to obtain information in “larger coherent data sets.”

Critics, including members of Parliament, the Danish Medical Association, the Danish Council of Ethics, and the Data Ethics Council, express deep concern over the law’s massive scope and potential impact on citizens’ rights and trust in the state. Johan Busse, Chairman of the Data Ethics Council, argues that the law’s proportionality is unclear and that it risks undermining confidence in the state.

The government argues that the law is necessary to modernize PET’s tools and enable the agency to analyze large digital datasets, including public registers and social media content, to intercept threats. The Minister of Justice emphasizes that access to sensitive health information will only be granted in “exceptional” cases and for the protection of critical PET objectives. The Minister also claims that the law aims to give PET the opportunity to work with »relevant data in closed systems,« where, for example, foreign intelligence services »cannot look along.«

The Danish Medical Association fears the bill will undermine citizens’ confidence in the healthcare system due to the broad scope of data collection and processing. The association has requested that health information be removed from the bill and never used for “person-directed investigation.”

Johan Busse maintains that the law’s “protection mechanisms are inadequate” and that it threatens to erode fundamental legal principles and citizens’ rights. The Minister has requested a postponement of the bill’s handling to allow for a thorough debate on its balances.