Third reading of the Draft Act supplementing the Police and Border Guard Act (670 SE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-08 20:29
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 49
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 43m
AI Summaries: 49/49 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debate focused on the third reading of Draft Bill 670, initiated by Riigikogu members Peeter Tali, Ando Kiviberg, Anti Haugas, and Mati Raidma, which aimed to supplement the Police and Border Guard Act by legalizing and regulating the use of the license plate recognition camera system. The debate was extremely polarized, deeply touching upon issues of fundamental rights, privacy, and trust in state authority.
Opposition parties (Centre Party, Isamaa, EKRE) sharply criticized the conduct of the Ministry of the Interior and the government, accusing them of illegally launching the system and seeking retroactive legalization. Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (Centre Party) and Varro Vooglaid (EKRE) saw the bill as a step towards a surveillance society, emphasizing the lack of a broad-based debate regarding the proportionality of camera density and officials' access. Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) accused the government of employing a cowardly method and causing a loss of trust, also citing the Tax and Customs Board's access to the data as a worrying development.
Supporters of the bill, Andre Hanimägi (SDE) and Peeter Tali (Eesti 200), defended the draft as an essential tool for the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) in solving serious crimes. They stressed that the bill represented a compromise that had received approval from both the Office of the Chancellor of Justice and the Data Protection Inspectorate, and they rejected accusations of scaremongering. In the final vote, Draft Bill 670 was adopted as law.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 670, initiated by Riigikogu members Peeter Tali, Ando Kiviberg, Anti Haugas, and Mati Raidma, concerning the supplementation of the Police and Border Guard Act, was adopted as law with 49 votes in favor and 16 votes against.
Most Active Speaker
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart (Center Party Faction of Estonia) was among the most active speakers, delivering comprehensive criticism of the draft legislation and highlighting the infringement of fundamental rights. Her stance was oppositional (miscellaneous).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller announced the commencement of the third agenda item—the third reading of Draft Act 670 on amending the Police and Border Guard Act, initiated by members of the Riigikogu—and opened the debates for the factions, giving the floor first to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller opened the debate for the parliamentary groups concerning the third reading of Bill 670, the draft act amending the Police and Border Guard Act, initiated by Riigikogu members Peeter Tali, Ando Kiviberg, Anti Haugas, and Mati Raidma, giving the floor first to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, representative of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart asked for an extension.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller made a brief procedural remark, requesting three minutes of additional time for his speech.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart expresses deep concern over the continuous stream of draft legislation originating from the Ministry of the Interior, which, in her assessment, drastically restricts people's fundamental rights and freedoms and increases societal surveillance. She cites as examples the withdrawn plan to limit demonstrations, the super database draft law, and the current legalization of license plate recognition cameras. She criticizes the rushed nature of the camera bill, the provision allowing unlimited installation, the granting of data access to 1,400 officials, and the misleading of the public regarding the fact that the system captures people in addition to vehicles. Consequently, the Centre Party will vote against the bill to protect democratic values and prevent the creation of a surveillance society.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart expressed deep concern over the continuous stream of draft legislation originating from the Ministry of the Interior’s jurisdiction, which restricts people’s fundamental rights and freedoms and increases societal surveillance, citing, for example, the bill on the retroactive legalization of number plate recognition cameras. She sharply criticized the bill’s inadequate analysis, the possibility of unlimited installation, and the fact that it misleads the public, as the cameras record people in addition to vehicles. Furthermore, it grants access to the data to an excessively large number of officials. Consequently, the Centre Party will vote against the draft bill as a duty to protect freedoms, demanding a broad-based democratic debate.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Urmas Reinsalu, the representative of the Isamaa faction, who requested three additional minutes for his speaking time, which were also allocated to him.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu, representing the Isamaa faction, requested additional time for speaking, following which he was allocated three supplementary minutes by Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu sharply criticizes the government’s "cowardly" and systemic approach to processing bills that concern fundamental rights, pointing to both a loss of trust and substantive deficiencies, such as the introduction of unlimited mobile cameras and the excessively broad profiling rights granted to the Tax and Customs Board. Consequently, Isamaa cannot support this bill. He emphasizes, however, that the considered use of technological solutions for crime prevention is entirely legitimate, but in this specific instance, both the method and the final text are fundamentally flawed.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu criticizes the government for its cowardly and systemic approach to processing draft legislation concerning fundamental rights. He stresses that the current bill is unacceptable, both because of its careless procedural methods and its substance, given that it allows for the unlimited use of mobile cameras and the profiling of individuals (including by the Tax and Customs Board). Consequently, the Isamaa party will not support it, even though the party supports the legitimate use of technology in combating crime, provided such use is constitutional and trustworthy.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Following a brief expression of thanks, Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Andre Hanimägi, who was speaking on behalf of and with the authorization of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller thanked the previous speaker and then gave the floor to Andre Hanimäe, the authorized representative of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi expresses surprise regarding the criticism and fear-mongering directed against the license plate recognition camera system, emphasizing that it is a strictly regulated tool that the Police and Border Guard Board urgently needs for solving essential crimes such as kidnappings and thefts, and accuses the opposition of presenting their objections only during the third reading of the bill.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi expressed great surprise at the intensity of the criticism directed against the license plate recognition cameras, refuting claims of Orwellian mass surveillance. He explained instead that the system is regulated and comprises just over a hundred cameras. He stressed that the Police and Border Guard Board considers this tool indispensable for solving serious crimes, such as kidnappings and rapes, and that the current draft bill provides very clear guidelines for the use and storage of data to prevent misuse, rendering the political opposition and fearmongering baseless.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller briefly and specifically requested three minutes of additional time to continue his speech or extend the discussion.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi sharply criticizes the Ministry of the Interior's bungling in drafting legislation, which fuels speculation about a surveillance state. However, he simultaneously defends the current draft bill (which is necessary to ensure the operational capacity of the police), stressing that it represents a compromise reached in the Legal Affairs Committee. He notes that the bill has been approved by both the Chancellor of Justice and the Data Protection Inspectorate, and he rejects claims that this is a malicious surveillance system. Hanimägi confirms that the Social Democrats support this necessary step to ensure that laws keep pace with technological advancements.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi sharply criticizes the Ministry of the Interior for its ineptitude in drafting legislation, which has generated baseless fears of widespread surveillance. However, he stresses that the current compromise bill—which was coordinated within the Legal Affairs Committee with stakeholders and the Data Protection Inspectorate—is a necessary solution to ensure that the Police and Border Guard Board can keep pace with technological advancements and avoid being "blind." Consequently, the Social Democrats support this draft legislation.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Arvo Aller thanked the previous speaker and subsequently gave the floor to Varro Vooglaid, who is speaking on behalf of the Estonian Conservative People's Party parliamentary group.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid announced on behalf of the faction that they do not support the bill for several reasons, stressing, firstly, that in a rule-of-law state, affairs cannot be conducted in a manner where the massive PPA license plate recognition camera system—which has been used illegally for years without parliamentary authorization or public knowledge—is simply legalized retroactively, with zero accountability. Secondly, the speaker deems the bill conceptually flawed because it is part of a broader program that erodes the right to privacy and pushes society further into surveillance, citing the pressure to phase out cash and the recent discussion by the PPA chief regarding so-called "fall cameras" as evidence of continuous movement in this direction.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid, speaking on behalf of the faction, announces that they do not support the bill for several reasons. First, it violates the principles of the rule of law because it attempts to retrospectively legalize the massive license plate recognition camera system that the PPA has used illegally for years without parliamentary authorization, and without anyone being held accountable. Second, the bill is conceptually flawed, as it represents yet another step deeper into a surveillance society where the right to privacy is reduced to a mere relic of the past. This is part of a broader program that also includes the phasing out of cash and the constant monitoring of people's movements and activities.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller asked for three minutes of extra time for himself.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid warns that although extensive surveillance and tracking systems, such as facial recognition and human microchipping, would indeed create a safer society, we would gradually lose all our freedom and privacy, eventually ending up living in a massive prison camp. He therefore calls for a vote against the bill in question to prevent a situation where privacy ceases to exist.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid warns that while extensive surveillance systems, facial recognition technology, and even the chipping of individuals might create a very secure society, this process will gradually lead to the complete disappearance of freedom and privacy, essentially transforming the state into a massive prison camp. Consequently, he urges people to vote against the draft legislation that facilitates this development.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Following a brief acknowledgement, Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller gave the floor to Peeter Tali to speak on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali, who was himself one of the initiators of the draft amendment to the Police and Border Guard Act, dismissed the criticism about creating a surveillance society, comparing the opponents to Luddites. He stressed that the legal change is absolutely necessary to fix a legal loophole, ensuring that the Estonian police remain effective and can utilize all technical means available to guarantee security, given that machines must take over some of the work currently done by a limited number of personnel.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali, who was one of the initiators of the bill to amend the Police and Border Guard Act, defends it, emphasizing that the amendment is essential for closing a legal loophole so that the Estonian police can effectively and cost-efficiently utilize all technical means necessary to ensure security. He also criticizes opponents, whom he compares to Luddites, for fear-mongering about a surveillance society.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar explained the rules of procedure, confirming that naming individuals grants the right to a rebuttal, and then invited Kalle Grünthal to the podium first, while simultaneously noting Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart's position in the speakers' queue.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar, who was presiding over the session, announced that because the names of Kalle Grünthal and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart had been mentioned earlier, they were now entitled to the right of reply, and he subsequently invited Kalle Grünthal to the speaker's stand.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal sharply criticizes Andre Hanimäe’s emotional, revolutionary speech, emphasizing that the bill in question is unconstitutional and should not be permitted, as it sacrifices freedom for the sake of security, leading the Republic of Estonia toward a digital concentration camp. Therefore, decisions must be based on the opinions of top legal experts and the constitution, rather than revolutionary enthusiasm.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal sharply criticizes Andre Hanimäe's emotional speech, which supports a bill that, in his estimation, disregards the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia. Citing leading legal experts, he warns that sacrificing freedom for the sake of security will lead to a digital concentration camp, and demands that legislation must be based solely on the constitution.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Following a brief expression of thanks, Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Urmas Reinsalu, requesting that he deliver a reply.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu asserts that the government has lost all trust because the political leadership has repeatedly attempted to restrict fundamental rights over the past few hours—ranging from limiting the right to public assembly and planning the criminalization of thought crimes, to pushing forward with the super database bill, which provides for the mass profiling of individuals—thereby demonstrating that their true strategic intentions are malicious, despite any rhetorical retreats.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu questions the government's credibility, pointing out that despite its rhetoric, the political leadership has, in recent hours, demonstrated repeated attempts to restrict the fundamental rights of citizens—ranging from limiting public assemblies and planning the criminalization of thought crimes to the mass profiling of individuals via a super database—which indicates a strategic desire to curtail freedoms, meaning the government cannot be trusted.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar confined himself to merely giving a brief indication, announcing that the speaker's time had begun.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu criticizes the opposition, asserting that they lack the necessary conceptual framework or category to operate at the level of fundamental rights based on freedom.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu criticizes the fact that the addressee lacks a category for operating at the level of fundamental rights, but emphasizes that freedom must remain at the core of all activity.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar limited his address to just a short word of thanks, thereby concluding his presentation.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu emphasized that constitutional freedom is the fundamental issue—the base problem, if you will—of the entire situation, and he believes his conversation partner Lauri should also grasp its seriousness.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded Urmas Reinsalu's speaking time, thanking him for his address, and subsequently gave the floor to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart for a response speech.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked Urmas Reinsalu for his speech and subsequently gave the floor to Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to deliver a reply.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart began her address with polite greetings, thanking the listeners, and respectfully addressing the Speaker of the Riigikogu and her colleagues.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked the audience to quiet down, as Anastasia could not be heard, and then invited Anastasia to speak.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called for silence among those present to ensure Anastassia could be heard, and subsequently gave her the floor.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart responded to the no-confidence motion initiated by Eesti 200, emphasizing that the people trust the Centre Party, unlike the government and Eesti 200, both of whom suffer from low support and are accused of fraud and initiating surveillance measures. She sharply criticized the bill being pushed through by the government, which retroactively legalizes arbitrarily installed cameras. Simultaneously, she demanded statistics regarding the police's access to people's data and crime resolution rates—information that is currently being concealed from the public.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart responds to the vote of no confidence from Eesti 200, emphasizing that the public trusts the Centre Party, not the low-support government and Eesti 200, which is busy with initiatives aimed at monitoring and punishing people. She sharply criticizes the government bill that retroactively legalizes arbitrarily installed cameras and ignores the recommendations of top legal experts. Furthermore, she demands the disclosure of statistics showing how often the police have used personal data and how many crimes they have solved using this information.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar closed the debate, as there were no further speakers, and, at the proposal of the lead committee, immediately put Draft Act 670, initiated by members of the Riigikogu, concerning the amendment of the Police and Border Guard Act, to the final vote, asking the members to take a position and cast their vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced the closure of the debates and, following the proposal of the responsible committee, proceeded to hold the final vote on Bill 670, initiated by Riigikogu members, which amends the Police and Border Guard Act, urging the MPs to cast their votes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar confirmed that the Riigikogu adopted Bill 670 as law, supporting the decision with 49 votes in favor and 16 votes against.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced the voting results of the Riigikogu, indicating that 49 members had voted in favor of the proposal and 16 against, and confirmed that Bill 670 SE has been adopted as law.