Czechia to expand espionage laws

The Czech government is set to broaden its espionage laws to criminalize the unauthorized disclosure of non-public or private information that could endanger national security. This move follows calls from domestic intelligence agencies, including the Security Information Service (BIS), to address gaps in the current legislation. Czechia is one of the countries where Russian intelligence services have been particularly aggressive. The new law will introduce a criminal offense termed "unauthorized activity for a foreign power," carrying penalties of up to five years in prison, or up to 15 years in cases of a heightened threat or war. The change aims to enhance law enforcement's ability to counter hostile intelligence activities on Czech soil.