Data Retention deal Risks civil liberties - Duff

3.36.53pm GMT Wed 14th Dec 2005

Andrew DUFF, Liberal Democrat MEP for the East of England, has today opposed new EU legislation that forces telecoms companies to store data about people's private phone calls, e-mails and internet use. The directive was fast-tracked through the Parliament at the request of the current British presidency of the Council. A majority of Euro-MPs, however, led by the conservatives and socialists, accepted the Council's deal.

In a statement today DUFF said:

"I recognise the need for extra security measures to combat terrorism. I am strongly opposed, however, to hastily-drafted law that gives too much licence to national governments to extend surveillance of the public beyond reasonable limits.

"There is also the problem of the extra cost of storing vast amounts of data. The law will give no compensation to companies, so the consumer will have to bear the brunt. This will hit small ISPs especially hard.

"This EU directive is not a good one. It extends the duration of the storage of data from 12 to 24 months. And each member state will be at liberty to decided for itself what is or is not in Europe a 'serious crime'. The absence of a common definition of crime is a grave weakness."

ENDS