The UK government and EU law enforcement agencies have been
pressing for a change to EU law to allow the retention of
communications data by ISPs and others to assist with terrorist and
criminal investigations. This week, these demands won the backing
of the US with words of support from President Bush.
Bush called for a change to a proposed EU directive on privacy
and communications. Currently, EU data protection law prohibits the
retention of personal data beyond a period deemed acceptable for
billing purposes – currently 30 days. The new directive gives scope
to change the law and extend data retention powers of law
enforcement agencies.
However, the proposal is the subject of real disagreement
between the European Council and European Parliament. Recently, the
Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee backed a report by MEP Marco
Cappato advocating strict regulation of such powers. The Cappato
report rejected proposals contained in the draft directive which
allowed the retention of traffic data for up to seven years.
President Bush expressed his opinion in a letter to the current
president of the EU, Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt.
