US could access EU data retention information

[STEED]

US authorities can get access to EU citizens' data on phone calls, sms' and emails, giving a recent EU data-retention law much wider-reaching consequences than first expected, reports Swedish daily Sydsvenskan.

The EU data retention bill, passed in February after much controversy and with implementation tabled for late 2007, obliges telephone operators and internet service providers to store information on who called who and who emailed who for at least six months, aimed at fighting terrorism and organised crime.

A week later on 2-3 March, EU and US representatives met in Vienna for an informal high level meeting on freedom, security and justice where the US expressed interest in the future storage of information.

The US delegation to the meeting "indicated that it was considering approaching each [EU] member state to ensure that the data collected on the basis of the recently adopted Directive on data retention be accessible to them," according to the notes of the meeting.

Representatives from the Austrian EU presidency and from the European Commission said that these data were "accessible like any other data on the basis of the existing ... agreements" the notes said.

The EU representatives added that the commission would convene an expert meeting on the issue.

Under current agreements, if the FBI, for example, is interested in a group of EU citizens from a member state who are involved in an investigation, the bureau can ask for help with a prosecutor in that member state.

The national prosecutor then requests telephone operators and internet service providers for information, which is then passed on to the FBI.

This procedure opens the way for US authorities to get access under the EU data-retention law, according to the Swedish newspaper.

In the US itself meanwhile, fury has broken out in the US congress after reports revealed that the Bush administration covertly collected domestic phone records of tens of millions of US citizens since the attacks in New York on 11 September 2001.

President George Bush did not deny the allegations in a television statement last night, but insisted that his administration had not broken any laws.

Bloody cheek

http://euobserver.com/9/21580

[Skybird]

"...the commission would convene an expert meeting on the issue."

Frigthening. It only can cause havoc.

[Onkel Neal]

pwn3d!

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

pwn3d!

Hä...?

[Wim Libaers]

Considering that European politicians generally do not really appreciate democracy of freedom (though they might occasionally pay lip service to it if forced), and their welcoming attitude towards hostile anti-European immigrant populations can already be considered outright treason of their countries, comparatively minor details like helping a foreign nation spy on your citizens should not surprise anyone.

Besides, wouldn't you want to know what all those fundamentalists inside Europe are doing? :P

[GreyOctober]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

pwn3d!

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

"ONWED" in l33t language

I guess Neal changed his keyboard :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[GreyOctober]

Oh and on the subject in question...bloody cheeky indeed

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by GreyOctober

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

"ONWED" in l33t language

I guess Neal changed his keyboard :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I'm branching out with my language skillz

[GreyOctober]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

I'm branching out with my language skillz

Its "sk1llz" Neal......"sk1llz"

[Skybird]

Hä...?

[Kapitan]

If americans can do it to us we should do it to them.

[DeepSix]

Originally Posted by GreyOctober

Its "sk1llz" Neal......"sk1llz"

Yeah, get it right, d00d! :P

[August]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

If americans can do it to us we should do it to them.

The Americans can only "do it to you" if your governments let them. That seems to be the case, but if you're really bent on revenge then feel free to request US phone records through our government. They just might oblige you.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Kapitan

If americans can do it to us we should do it to them.

Unfortunately we don't have the "power" economic or military that they have; to do otherwise.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by August

The Americans can only "do it to you" if your governments let them.

Hey August have you met are Prime Minister?

When George and Tony meet it goes like this -

George, "Roll over Tony that's a good boy now fetch"
Tony, "Woof woof "
George, "Good boy Tony well done, what's that you say Tony you want to lick my