By Joey Gardiner, 20 May 2002 16:30
NEWS EU member states are pushing for the inclusion of legislation allowing the retention of telecoms traffic data in the Communications Data Protection Directive despite civil rights objections. In a document published by the EU Council, the Presidency calls for legislation to give countries the right to retain data for a "limited period" on the grounds not just of national security, but also for the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences. Civil liberties groups are objecting to the plan on the grounds it marks an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Caspar Bowden, chair of information age pressure group the Foundation for Information Policy Research, said in a statement the move was an attempt to legitimise blanket retention of traffic data on entire populations. This is also against the recommendations of the European Commission's own working party on data protection. Chairman Stefano Rodota told the Council last year in a letter the retention of telecoms data should not be expanded. He said: "Systematic and preventive storage of EU citizens' communications and related traffic data would undermine the fundamental rights to privacy, data protection, freedom of expression, liberty and presumption of innocence. Could the Information Society still claim to be a democratic society under such circumstances?" Currently telecoms data is retained for a short period for billing purposes, but after this has to be destroyed.
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