The Observer today (9 June 2002) reports today that millions of personal emails, other internet information and telephone records are to be made accessible to European police and intelligence services.  This will be one of the most wide-ranging extensions of state power over private information in recent European history.

Plans being drawn up by Europol, the police and intelligence arm of the European Union, propose that telephone and internet firms retain millions of pieces of data - including details of visits to internet chat rooms, and calls made on mobile phones and text messages.

A draft document passed to The Observer reveals that the EU is now drawing up a 'common code' on data retention, which will be applicable in all member states.

Security and police sources said the new powers will come into force in Britain towards the end of the year.

‘It is typical that such a significant change in the control over private information is being worked out in secret,’ said Dr Ian Brown, a leading expert on data privacy and director of the Foundation for
Information Policy Research.

’It does seem to have been Britain that has put pressure on other member states to put in place this type of legislation. In 99 per cent of cases it will be used properly, but what about the other one per cent? There is not enough scrutiny of what is going on.’

The Europol document was drawn up at a private meeting of police, intelligence services and customs and excise officials from across Europe in The Hague last April. It lists 10 areas where companies will
be required to keep information to help in the fight against international terrorism, domestic crime and drug running.

Companies that run internet sites will be required to retain passwords used by individuals, record which website addresses are visited, and keep details of webpages looked at and any credit card or bank details used for subscriptions.

The information retained about emails will include who sent the message, where the email went, its contents and the time and date it was sent.

It is believed that Britain will push for the data to be kept for up to five years. At the moment much of it is only kept for one or two months, for billing purposes, by the companies that run internet and email
services.

The Europol document says the use of telephones - landlines and mobiles - will be monitored. Numbers dialled, when and where they were dialled from and personal details such as the address, date of birth and bank details of the subscriber who paid for the call will also be kept.

The document, headed 'Expert Meeting on Cyber Crime: Data Retention', suggests mobile phones records could be used by police and the intelligence services to track the geographical location of people making calls.

The Observer today (9 June 2002) reports today that millions of personal emails, other internet information and telephone records are to be made accessible to European police and intelligence services.  This will be one of the most wide-ranging extensions of state power over private information in recent European history.

Plans being drawn up by Europol, the police and intelligence arm of the European Union, propose that telephone and internet firms retain millions of pieces of data - including details of visits to internet chat rooms, and calls made on mobile phones and text messages.

A draft document passed to The Observer reveals that the EU is now drawing up a 'common code' on data retention, which will be applicable in all member states.

Security and police sources said the new powers will come into force in Britain towards the end of the year.

‘It is typical that such a significant change in the control over private information is being worked out in secret,’ said Dr Ian Brown, a leading expert on data privacy and director of the Foundation for
Information Policy Research.

’It does seem to have been Britain that has put pressure on other member states to put in place this type of legislation. In 99 per cent of cases it will be used properly, but what about the other one per cent? There is not enough scrutiny of what is going on.’

The Europol document was drawn up at a private meeting of police, intelligence services and customs and excise officials from across Europe in The Hague last April. It lists 10 areas where companies will
be required to keep information to help in the fight against international terrorism, domestic crime and drug running.

Companies that run internet sites will be required to retain passwords used by individuals, record which website addresses are visited, and keep details of webpages looked at and any credit card or bank details used for subscriptions.

The information retained about emails will include who sent the message, where the email went, its contents and the time and date it was sent.

It is believed that Britain will push for the data to be kept for up to five years. At the moment much of it is only kept for one or two months, for billing purposes, by the companies that run internet and email
services.

The Europol document says the use of telephones - landlines and mobiles - will be monitored. Numbers dialled, when and where they were dialled from and personal details such as the address, date of birth and bank details of the subscriber who paid for the call will also be kept.

The document, headed 'Expert Meeting on Cyber Crime: Data Retention', suggests mobile phones records could be used by police and the intelligence services to track the geographical location of people making calls.