EP Adopts Compromise Data Protection Directive
The European Parliament has ratified a compromise data protection directive that limits the ability of law enforcement agencies of its 15-member nations to capture the personal information and electronic communications of Internet users.
The compromise document was developed by the EP’s two largest political groups, the European Peoples Party and European Democrats, and the Party of European Socialists, after an international coalition of privacy groups objected to its original version, according to European Parliament documents.
In its original form, European law enforcement agencies would have gained uncontrolled authority to monitor Internet use and capture information about its users and their communications.
Now, they are required to obtain the approval of the European Court of Human Rights before monitoring and capturing the personal information of Internet users in their respective countries.
It also requires the governments of EP member nations to adopt laws that both protect the privacy of the information authorities capture from the Internet and impose a limit on how long they can retain that information in their files.
The EP, which agreed to reconsider the directive which has been in force for three years, also reaffirmed directives requiring individuals to opt in to receive unsolicited commercial e-mails and to opt out from allowing operators of Internet sites to capture both their personal information and use of the Internet for marketing and other purposes.
The new legislation still faces final approval by the 15 EU governments.
