By Jo Best, 14 December 2005 14:45
NEWS
The European parliament has today passed new, far-reaching data retention legislation for the telecommunications industry.
The directive, which will require ISPs and phone companies to keep data on every electronic message sent or phone call made for between six months and two years, has been criticised as a threat to the personal privacy of European citizens.
Telecoms providers will now have to keep data including the time of each fixed and mobile phone call made in Europe, whether the call is answered or not, the duration of the call and other details that can trace the caller, as well as times users connect to the internet, their IP addresses and details pertaining to emails and VoIP calls. The content of the communications will not be recorded.
The legislation is being championed by the UK and other governments. They say it will help to trace terrorists through communications records. The change in the law was proposed during the UK's presidency of the EU in the wake of the 7 July London bombings.
Telcos and ISPs had expressed concerns about the financial impact of the parliament's decision as the new law will drastically increase companies' storage costs but makes no move to compensate them.
According to the Home Office, European Union member states could begin implementing the directive from as early as next year.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke said in a statement: "Agreement on retaining communications data places a vital tool against terrorism and serious crime in the hands of law enforcement agencies across Europe. Modern criminality crosses borders and seeks to exploit digital technology."
A separate data retention directive from the European Commission was passed earlier this year, despite fierce criticism from both the public and private sector.
Comments
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1. Karen Challinor
One small step away from having some beaurocrat listen to every phone conversation and read your mail before you get it
Sorry but these are yours and my rights being legislated away here without us being consulted, and the people doing it are supposed to work for us, I think they should look for a better solution.
I fully intend to vote for a party that will look for a better solution, one that doesn't affect my rights or make me carry a non compulsory ID card to access basic services and allows me to say what I want within half a mile of parliament square.
2. Rob
"Sorry but these are yours and my rights being legislated away here without us being consulted"
Consulted! Like we get consulted on most things that actually affect us. Voting for a different party won't help either, direct action through protest is the only way the people get noticed by the government, unfortunately most of us can't be bothered to do that.