In a striking display of public opposition, an overwhelming majority of Czech citizens have rejected a controversial proposal by the Ministries of Interior and Industry that would require internet providers to track users’ browsing history. A recent poll conducted by Novinky showed that 96.7% of respondents strongly opposed the proposal, with an additional 1.2% leaning against it. Only 2.1% expressed support for the measure.
The proposal, which would grant law enforcement access to citizens’ browsing data for virtually all criminal investigations, has sparked intense debate about privacy rights and government overreach. Nearly half of the public comments (49%) expressed concerns about privacy violations and parallels to totalitarian surveillance.
Following widespread criticism, key political figures have begun distancing themselves from the proposal. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan stated that “no Big Brother will exist,” while Prime Minister Petr Fiala explicitly declared that such measures would not be implemented during his administration.
The Czech Data Protection Office (ÚOOÚ) has also opposed the measure, noting that it contradicts established EU Court of Justice precedents. According to ÚOOÚ spokesperson Milan Řepka, the European Court declared blanket data retention illegal back in 2014.
This proposal stands in stark contrast to global trends, where legislators are increasingly strengthening online privacy protections through measures such as mandatory cookie consent and enhanced user privacy controls.