Data Protection EU Data Protection Supervisors Privacy
European Data Protection Supervisor Suggests Repeal of Data Retention Directive
The European Data Protection Supervisor Peter Hustinx has raised the possibility of repealing Europe's Data Retention Directive. which requires telecommunication companies and ISPs to retain user data for law enforcement purposes. According to Hustinx, the Directive does not provide clear guidance about why this data must be retained or who will have access to it. In his opinion, Hustinx stated that the Directive does not meet the requirements set out by the rights to privacy and data protection, and asked the European Commission to consider all options "including the possibility of repealing the Directive." Several European courts have also found that the Directive violates Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. For more information, see EPIC: Data Retention.