Agenda Profile: Anti Haugas
Draft law amending the Police and Border Guard Act (670 SE) – first reading
2025-06-18
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Political Position
The political stance is one of strong support for legalizing license plate recognition cameras (670 SE) in order to eliminate legal ambiguity and restore this essential tool for the police. The focus is on a results-oriented approach, emphasizing that these cameras are vital for ensuring public safety and for both preventing and solving serious crimes. The speaker stressed the importance of acting quickly to minimize the risks associated with suspending the use of these cameras.
14 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker is an expert on the legal regulation, data protection requirements, and enforcement statistics concerning license plate recognition (LPR) cameras. He/She cites the positions of the Data Protection Inspectorate and the Chancellor of Justice, highlighting specific details regarding data retention (45 days) and the logging of queries (up to 2 years). Furthermore, he/she differentiates between LPR cameras and speed cameras, focusing on their technical differences and data collection priorities.
14 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is pragmatic, rational, and urgent, emphasizing the necessity of taking action during the summer to achieve legal clarity. Logical argumentation is employed, balancing the infringement of fundamental rights against the benefit of security ("the other side of the coin"). A strong emotional appeal is established through specific negative examples, such as child abduction, car thefts, and drug crime, to illustrate the essential need for cameras.
14 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is actively involved in the legislative process, having been among the initiators of the draft bill and participating in the first reading to answer questions. He/She personally commits to refining the draft bill over the summer, ensuring it meets the requirements for the second reading by early September.
14 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The opposition is primarily aimed at those who question the proportionality and legal basis of the measure, and it indirectly criticizes former interior ministers (including representatives of Isamaa) for long-term inaction at the regulatory level. He addresses Igor Taro's decision to suspend the use of cameras, condemning the motive (police credibility) but not the action itself. The criticism is political and procedural, not personal.
14 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker emphasized the inter-ministerial cooperation (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Digital Affairs) involved in preparing the draft legislation. He/She is open to compromises and promises that during the second reading, the proposals made by the Chancellor of Justice and the Data Protection Inspectorate will be taken into account to improve the draft bill, especially regarding subsection 7.
14 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is on national security and legal certainty in Estonia, referencing the activities of the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) and other security agencies. Regionally, examples of criminal activity in Võru and Central Estonia are highlighted, alongside international cooperation efforts (specifically regarding Lithuanian car thieves and drug trafficking).
14 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Insufficient data.
14 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The main social issue is the balance between citizens' fundamental rights (privacy) and public security. The speaker acknowledges the infringement of rights but emphasizes that it is proportional and essential for preventing serious crimes against the person (such as child abduction) and drug-related crime. The focus is on ensuring security.
14 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is currently on Draft Bill 670 SE, which proposes amendments to the Police and Border Guard Act. The aim of this bill is to establish legal regulation for the use of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras. The objective, as the submitter and supporter of the bill, is to define clear conditions for the collection, storage, and processing of the resulting data.
14 Speeches Analyzed