Eavesdropping software that can be installed from a distance on the computers of suspects is available to the police, justice minister Ivo Opstelten told parliament on Monday evening.

He was replying to questions from left-wing liberals D66, the socialist party SP and green party GroenLinks following reports that German police are using eavesdropping software.
Opstelten told parliament that the software has only been used in a handful of cases but gave no figures. Nor did he say which software is being used for security reasons.
Serious crimes
Eavesdropping is only allowed when very serious crimes have been committed where suspects are in temporary custody. The public prosecution office has assured the minister it is keeping to the rules, according to the Nos website.
The Netherlands sanctions more phone taps per head of population than any other country in the world.
The justice ministry authorised taps on 26,425 telephones in 2008, the latest year when full figures are available.