EU Cut Deal On Phone, Internet Data Retention

SkyNews
Dec. 02, 2005

European ministers have agreed draft anti-terror rules which dictate how long telecoms firms must keep mobile phone and internet data.

The laws would see information about every mobile phone call and text message in Europe, plus some internet details, kept for between six months and two years.

If adopted by the European Parliament, the deal would lead to new laws in Britain and throughout the EU's other 24 member states.

At present there is a voluntary deal in the UK for the data to be held for between six months and a year.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke had originally proposed a minimum of 12 months, but the Home Office spokesman denied the latest plans represented a climbdown.

The spokesman said: "This is a real achievement. A lot of time and effort has been invested personally by the Home Secretary in trying to secure a deal.

"We are very hopeful that the Parliament will back this."

Mr Clarke argues the information can be a crucial tool in police investigations of terrorism and organised crime, such as drug trafficking and people smuggling.

The Home Office says the deal, if adopted, would require firms to store which numbers were dialled; the time and duration of calls; the location of the caller throughout and at the end of the call, and the location of the mobile phone being dialled.

Details of calls that connect but are unanswered would also be also archived because these can be signals to accomplices or used to detonate bombs.

Companies will also have to store similar records about text messages and internet service providers will be required to keep details of when and where an individual logs on and logs off the internet.

The Home Office said the Government has already earmarked £6m a year to fund the project in the UK.