Telcos could face tough data retention laws

Telecoms companies could find themselves legally bound to monitor and retain traffic data as European governments attempt to sneak through new legislation.

Civil liberties organisation Statewatch said today it has unearthed a plan by European Union governments to introduce such a clause into anti-spam legislation, due to be voted on by the European Parliament on 15 May.

The data which telcos would be required to retain could then be made available to the police and other law enforcement agencies, such as customs.

According to Statewatch, the Council of Ministers - which represents EU governments in Brussels - is planning to introduce a so-called "Framework Decision" which will force countries to make laws mandating the retention of telecoms data.

Unless more than half the MEPs vote against the proposal, it will go through by default.

In a statement, the editor of Statewatch, Tony Bunyan, said: "If all telecommunications - phone-calls, emails, faxes and internet usage - are placed under surveillance, not only will data protection be fatally undermined but so too will be the very freedoms that distinguish democracies from authoritarian regimes"