[LINK] EU unveils plan to log all electronic, phone communication

[Con Zymaris]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1465671.htm

The European Commission has adopted proposals to log details of all 
telephone, Internet, and e-mail traffic, to combat terrorism and serious 
crime.

The push for EU-wide data storage came after the Madrid bomb attacks last 
year, and intensified after the London bomb attacks in July, when Britain 
took over the rotating EU presidency.

The Commission proposes storing data related to mobile and fixed telephone 
traffic for a year, to allow the police to trace the time, place, and 
numbers used.

Internet data such as e-mails would be kept for six months. 

The Commission's text aims to harmonise the current patchwork of data 
retention practices across the bloc. 

The executive's Vice President Franco Frattini said the harmonisation will 
take into account the fundamental rights of security, the protection of 
private information, the interests of the police and concerns of industry. 

The Commission's proposal will need to be agreed by member states and the 
European Parliament, while a rival plan will need unanimous agreement 
among the 25 EU governments. 

The rival plan proposal envisages storing data between one and three 
years. 

Some member states fear involving parliament will slow down legislation as 
EU lawmakers as seen as being more open to pressure from industry 
campaigners and civil liberties groups to water down the proposals. 

Mr Frattini committed himself to a speedy process.
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