STOCKHOLM (AP)  Sweden on Wednesday adopted contentious legislation that will give officials sweeping powers to eavesdrop on all e-mail and telephone traffic that crosses the Nordic nation's borders. After heated debate and last-minute changes, lawmakers approved the bill that has outraged some lawmakers and prompted protesters to hand out copies of George Orwell's novel "1984" outside Parliament. Lawmakers approved the bill in a 143-138 vote. One lawmaker abstained. It will become law in January. Google Inc. and Swedish telecom TeliaSonera AB have called it the most far-reaching eavesdropping plan in Europe, comparable to a U.S. government surveillance program. "By introducing these new measures, the Swedish government is following the examples set by governments ranging from China and Saudi Arabia to the U.S. government's widely criticized eavesdropping program," Google's global privacy counsel, Peter Fleischer said. Since the law was first proposed in 2005 — in a country known and praised for its democratic principles — critics have slammed it, saying it would encroach on privacy and jeopardize civil liberties. On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Parliament in a last attempt to stop the law. Supporters say the legislation is needed to ensure safety against terrorist attacks in a high-tech society where advanced technology also is used by would-be attackers. The new powers will give Sweden's National Defense Radio Establishment — the authority for such intelligence — the right to scan all international phone calls, e-mails and faxes for sensitive keywords without a court order. Late Tuesday, four governing coalition lawmakers forced changes in the bill, hoping they would protect individual privacy. They had threatened to vote against it with the opposition if the additions were not adopted. But critics say the changes, which include monitoring by independent institutions, do not change the fundamental problems with the law, including the fact that it will make people worried about contacting journalists. "This is just as absurd as before. It contravenes article 12 of the U.N.'s declaration of human rights," said Per Strom from The New Welfare Foundation think tank. "It will still create a society characterized by self-censorship and anxiety." Many European countries have gradually increased surveillance powers, including wiretapping and police searches, in a move to combat terror plots. However, Italy — which experts deem one of the world's most wiretapped democracies — is now starting to backtrack, saying the privacy of Italian citizens needs protecting. Currently, e-mail and phone surveillance in Sweden requires a court order if police suspect a crime, although the intelligence agency is allowed to spy on airborne signals, such as radio and satellite traffic. The government rejects claims the law will give it unlimited powers to spy on its own citizens and maintains it will filter out domestic communications and is interested only in international traffic. Green Party lawmaker Peter Radberg disagrees. "It is technically impossible to separate domestic traffic from international traffic," Radberg said. Youth wings of two governing parties had called on lawmakers to vote against the bill, and even the national security police warned the plan risks violating citizens' privacy. The controversy also has stretched beyond the country's borders. The European Federation of Journalists highlighted a potential threat to source protection, saying electronic monitoring of phone and e-mail communications contravenes international and European legal standards. "The tapping of journalists' telephones compromises the watchdog role of the media and puts at risk the right to inform the public," federation president Arne Konig said. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more