EU's Big Brother plan: Data retention proposals spark controversy

Radio Netherlands
Nov. 04, 2005

The EU is proposing to keep details of phone calls made, emails sent and websites surfed by all 450 million European Union citizens.
This is in a bid to combat serious crime and terrorism.

The information would be stored for between six months and a year - although some EU countries want to be able to keep the records for longer.

This is essential in the fight against terrorism, claim the backers of the scheme, saying it will provide vital information for police and security services attempting to prevent terrorist attacks and solve serious crimes.

The opponents say the plans are an intrusion into the right to privacy, that the value of keeping such data is not proven and that any such system would be open to abuse.

An expert panel joined forum host, Andy Clark, for the discussion this week.

Click to listen to the programme

The panel:

Simon Hania, the technical director of XS4all, one of the leading Dutch Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Professor Richard de Mulder from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, a professor of law and an expert on law and computer technology.

Sjoera Nas from Bits of Freedom, an independent organisation which campaigns to uphold people's digital civil rights.

Corien Jonker from the Christian Democrat CDA party, the biggest party in the current Dutch coalition government.

Gus Hosein from human rights watchdog Privacy International.