Friday 16th December, 2005
European Union Approves Public Surveillance via Retention of Internet, Email, and Telephone Data
Adam Pegley, www.idcardandyou.co.uk
European Union Approves Public Surveillance via Retention of Internet, Email, and Telephone Data
Adam Pegley, www.idcardandyou.co.uk
This week the European Union Commission announced measures for EU-wide recording of citizens’ private internet and telephone data as follows:
- Mobile and fixed line telephone data to be held for 1 year
- Data related to internet communications to be held for 6 months
Costs incurred by telephone and internet providers will be paid for by the tax payer. The UK will apply the directive.
Original European Community Law designed to safeguard privacy requires the deletion of this data once a communication has taken place (although some data can be retained by the provider for billing purposes). For crime prevention, investigations, and prosecutions, member states (including U.K.) could acquire specific data on specific individuals.
In contrast, under the new directive, the U.K. will record data on all private individuals regardless of whether they are involved in criminal activity.
With the growth of flat-rate and pre-paid mobile telephone contracts and the introduction of VOIP services, companies have had little reason to store data for billing purposes. In return the consumer has enjoyed greater freedom and anonymity under these deals.
Attempting to justify a further invasion into the privacy and freedom of EU citizens, Vice President Franco Frattini commented “This agreement is a victory for democracy, a victory for EU citizens……A victory for the EU citizens because this instrument deals with the real issues they are faced with, such as taking a train to work without fearing (for) ones life”.