Niger’s parliament brushed off an opposition protest walkout yesterday to adopt new legislation authorising wiretapping as a means of curbing “terrorism and transnational criminality”. The new law permits “research of information” which notably may “threaten state security” or “prevent the fight against terrorism and organised transnational crime” in a country large swathes of which are in thrall to jihadist conflict. Opposition parties are concerned that the country’s constitution holds that “secrecy of correspondence and of communications is inviolable”. Under the new law, “obtained proofs can be used in investigations and criminal prosecutions initiated...