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Art. 269 Requirements
1The public prosecutor may arrange for post and telecommunications to be monitored if: - a.
- there is a strong suspicion that an offence listed in paragraph 2 has been committed;
- b.
- the seriousness of the offence justifies surveillance; and
- c.
- investigative activities carried out so far have been unsuccessful or the enquiries would otherwise have no prospect of success or be made unreasonably complicated.
2Surveillance may be ordered in the investigation of the offences under the following Articles: - a.1
- SCC2: Articles 111–113, 115, 118 paragraph 2, 122, 124, 127, 129, 135, 138–140, 143, 144 paragraph 3, 144bis number 1 paragraph 2 and number 2 paragraph 2, 146–148, 156, 157 number 2, 158 number 1 paragraph 3 and number 2, 160, 163 number 1, 180, 181, 182–185, 187, 188 number 1, 189–191, 192 paragraph 1, 195–197, 220, 221 paragraphs 1 and 2, 223 number 1, 224 paragraph 1, 226, 227 number 1 paragraph 1, 228 number 1 paragraph 1, 230bis, 231 number 1, 232 number 1, 233 number 1, 234 paragraph 1, 237 number 1, 238 paragraph 1, 240 paragraph 1, 242, 244, 251 number 1, 258, 259 paragraph 1, 260bis–260quinquies, 261bis, 264–267, 271, 272 number 2, 273, 274 number 1 paragraph 2, 285, 301, 303 number 1, 305, 305bis number 2, 310, 312, 314, 317 number 1, 319, 322ter, 322quater and 322septies;
- b.3
- Federal Act of 16 December 20054 on Foreign Nationals: Articles 116 paragraph 3 and 118 paragraph 3;
- c.
- Federal Act of 22 June 20015 on the Hague Convention on Adoption and on Measures to Protect Children in International Adoption Cases: Article 24;
- d.6
- War Material Act of 13 December 19967: Articles 33 paragraph 2 and 34–35b;
- e.
- Nuclear Energy Act of 21 March 20038: Articles 88 paragraphs 1 and 2, 89 paragraphs 1 and 2 and 90 paragraph 1;
- f.9
- Narcotics Act of 3 October 195110: Articles 19 number 1 second sentence and number 2, and 20 number 1 second sentence;
- g.
- Environmental Protection Act of 7 October 198311: Article 60 paragraph 1 letters g–i as well as m and o;
- h.
- Goods Control Act of 13 December 199612: Article 14 paragraph 2;
- i.13
- Sport Promotion Act of 17 June 201114: Article 22 paragraphs 2 and 25a paragraph 3;
- j.15
- Financial Market Infrastructure Act of 19 June 201516: Articles 154 and 155;
- k.17
- Weapons Act of 20 June 199718: Article 33 paragraph 3;
- l.19
- Medicinal Products Act of 15 December 200020: Article 86 paragraphs 2 and 3;
- m.21
- Gambling Act of 29 September 201722: Article 130 paragraph 2 for the offences under Article 130 paragraph 1 letter a.
3If the adjudication an offence subject to military jurisdiction is assigned to the jurisdiction of the civil courts, the surveillance of post and telecommunications may also be ordered in the investigation of the offences under Article 70 paragraph 2 of the Military Criminal Procedure Code of 23 March 197923.
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Art. 269bis Use of special technical devices for the surveillance of telecommunications
1The public prosecutor may order the use of special technical devices for the surveillance of telecommunications in order to listen to or record conversations, identify a person or property or determine their location if: - a.
- the requirements of Article 269 are met;
- b.
- previous telecommunications surveillance measures under Article 269 have been unsuccessful or surveillance with these measures would be futile or disproportionately difficult;
- c.
- the authorisation required under telecommunications law has been obtained to use these devices at the time of use.
2The public prosecutor shall keep statistics on the use of these forms of surveillance. The Federal Council shall regulate the details.
1 Inserted by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683).
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Art. 269ter Use of special software for the surveillance of telecommunications
1The public prosecutor may order the introduction of special software into a data processing system in order to intercept and recover the content of communications and telecommunications metadata in unencrypted form provided: - a.
- the conditions of Article 269 paragraphs 1 and 3 are met;
- b.
- the proceedings relate to an offence listed in Article 286 paragraph 2;
- c.
- previous telecommunications surveillance measures under Article 269 have been unsuccessful or surveillance with these measures would be futile or disproportionately difficult.
2In the surveillance order, the public prosecutor shall specify: - a.
- the desired data types; and
- b.
- the non-public spaces that may have to be entered in order to introduce special software into the relevant data processing system.
3Data not covered by paragraph that is collected when using such software must be destroyed immediately. No use may be made of information obtained from such data. 4The public prosecutor shall keep statistics on these forms of surveillance. The Federal Council shall regulate the details.
1 Inserted by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683).
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Art. 269quater Requirements applicable to special software for the surveillance of telecommunications
1The only special software that may be used is that which records the surveillance unalterably and without interruption. The record forms part of the case files. 2The recovery of data from the data processing system under surveillance to the relevant criminal justice authority must take place securely. 3The criminal justice authority shall ensure that the source code can be checked in order to verify that the software has only legally permitted functions.
1 Inserted by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683).
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Art. 270 Subject matter of surveillance
The post and telecommunications of the following persons may be monitored:1 - a.
- the accused;
- b.
- third parties if there is reason to believe based on specific information that:
- 1.2
- the accused uses the postal address or the telecommunications service of the third party, or
- 2.
- the third party receives certain communications on behalf of the accused or passes on communications from the accused to another person.
1 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683). 2 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683).
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Art. 271 Preservation of professional confidentiality
1When monitoring a person belonging to one of the professions mentioned in Articles 170–173, the court must ensure that information that is relevant to the enquiries or the reason why this person is being monitored is separated from information that is relevant, in order to guarantee that no professional secrets come to the knowledge of the criminal justice authority. The separated data must be destroyed immediately; it may not be evaluated. 2Information under paragraph 1 need not be separated beforehand if: - a.
- there is a strong suspicion that the person subject to professional confidentiality is guilty of an offence; and
- b.
- there are specific reasons justifying the direct interception of communications.
3In the surveillance of other persons, as soon as it is established that they have links with a person mentioned in Articles 170–173, information on communication with the person must be separated in accordance with paragraph 1. Information in respect of which a person mentioned in Articles 170–173 may refuse to testify must be removed from the case documents and destroyed immediately; it may not be evaluated.
1 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683).
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Art. 272 Duty to obtain authorisation and general authorisation
1The surveillance of post and telecommunications requires the authorisation of the compulsory measures court. 2If enquiries reveal that the person under surveillance is changing his or her telecommunications service regularly, the compulsory measures court may by way of exception authorise the surveillance of all identified services used by the person under surveillance for telecommunications so that authorisation is not required in each individual case (general authorisation).1 The public prosecutor shall submit a report to the compulsory measures court for approval every month and on conclusion of the surveillance. 3If during the surveillance of a service in terms of a general authorisation, measures are required to protect professional confidentiality and such measures are not mentioned in the general authorisation, an application for authorisation for the individual surveillance operation concerned must be submitted to the compulsory measures court.2
1 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683). 2 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683).
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Art. 273 Subscriber information, location identification and technical transmission features
1If there is a strong suspicion that a felony or misdemeanour or a contravention in terms of Article 179septies SCC2 has been committed, and if the requirements of Article 269 paragraph 1 letters b and c of this Code are met, the public prosecutor may request metadata relating to telecommunications in accordance with Article 8 letter b of the Federal Act of 18 March 20163 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic (SPTA) and metadata relating to post in accordance with Article 19 paragraph 1 letter b SPTA relating to the person under surveillance. 2The order requires the approval of the compulsory measures court. 3The information mentioned in paragraph 1 may be requested irrespective of the duration of surveillance and for the 6 months prior to the date of the request.
1 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683). 2 SR 311.0 3 SR 780.1
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Art. 274 Authorisation procedure
1The public prosecutor shall submit the following documents to the compulsory measures court within 24 hours of surveillance or the release of information being ordered: - a.
- the order;
- b.
- a statement of the reasons and the case documents relevant for authorisation.
2The compulsory measures court shall decide and provide a brief statement of the reasons within 5 days of the surveillance or the release of information being ordered. It may grant authorisation subject to a time limit or other conditions, or request further information or investigations. 3The compulsory measures court shall give notice of the decision immediately to the public prosecutor and to the Post and Telecommunications Surveillance Bureau in terms of Article 3 SPTA1.2 4The authorisation shall expressly state: - a.
- which measures must be taken to protect professional confidentiality;
- b.
- whether non-public spaces may be entered in order to introduce special software into the relevant data processing system.3
5The compulsory measures court shall grant authorisation for a maximum of 3 months. The authorisation may be extended on one or more occasions for a maximum of 3 months at a time. If an extension is required, the public prosecutor shall file an application for the extension, stating the reasons therefor, before expiry of the current authorisation.
1 SR 780.1 2 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683). 3 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683).
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Art. 275 Conclusion of surveillance
1The public prosecutor shall stop surveillance immediately if: - a.
- the requirements are no longer fulfilled; or
- b.
- the authorisation or its extension is refused.
2In cases under paragraph 1 letter a, the public prosecutor shall notify the compulsory measures court that surveillance has been concluded.
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Art. 276 Results not required
1Records of authorised surveillance operations that are not required for criminal proceedings shall be stored separately from the case documents and destroyed immediately on conclusion of the proceedings. 2Postal items may be retained for as long as this is necessary for the criminal proceedings; they must be released to the addressee as soon as the status of the proceedings permits.
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Art. 277 Use of the results of unauthorised surveillance operations
1Documents and data carriers obtained in unauthorised surveillance activities must be destroyed immediately. Postal items must be delivered to the addressee immediately. 2The results of unauthorised surveillance operations may not be used.
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Art. 278 Accidental finds
1If in the course of surveillance operations offences other than those specified in the surveillance order come to light, these findings may be used against the accused provided surveillance would have been permitted in the investigation of the offences concerned. 1bisIf offences come to light during surveillance operations in terms of Articles 35 and 36 SPTA1, the findings may be used subject to the requirements specified in paragraphs 2 and 3.2 2Findings relating to offences committed by a person who is not named as a suspect in the surveillance order may be used if the requirements for the surveillance of this person are fulfilled. 3In cases under paragraphs 1, 1bis and 2, the public prosecutor shall order surveillance immediately and begin the authorisation procedure.3 4Records that may not be used as accidental finds must be stored separately from the case documents and destroyed on conclusion of the proceedings. 5Any findings made in a surveillance operation may be used to trace wanted persons.
1 SR 780.1 2 Inserted by Annex No II 7 of the Criminal Justice Authorities Act of 19 March 2010 (AS 2010 3267; BBl 2008 8125). Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683). 3 Amended by Annex No II 7 of the Criminal Justice Authorities Act of 19 March 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 3267; BBl 2008 8125).
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Art. 279 Notice
1The public prosecutor shall notify the suspect under surveillance and third parties under surveillance in terms of Article 270 letter b of the reason for and form and duration of the surveillance operation on conclusion of the preliminary proceedings at the latest. 2With the consent of the compulsory measures court, notice may be deferred or dispensed with if: - a.
- the findings are not used as evidence in court proceedings; and
- b.
- deferring or dispensing with notice is necessary to protect overriding public or private interests.
3Persons whose post or telecommunications have been under surveillance or who have used a postal address or telecommunications service that has been under surveillance may file an objection under Articles 393–397.1 The period for filing the objection begins on receipt of the notice.
1 Amended by Annex No II 1 of the FA of 18 March 2016 on the Surveillance of Postal and Telecommunications Traffic, in force since 1 March 2018 (AS 2018 117; BBl 2013 2683).
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