European Ministers to Discuss EU-Wide Data Retention Plan

By Netvora Tech News

---

European Union ministers are set to discuss a plan to introduce a EU-wide data retention policy at a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JBZ) on June 12 and 13. The JBZ is a gathering of ministers of justice and the interior from EU member states, which takes place several times a year. The move comes as part of the European Commission's new internal security strategy, which aims to assess the impact of data retention rules on a European level. Eleven years ago, the European Court of Justice declared the EU's data retention directive invalid, which had allowed telecom companies to store citizens' data for months or even years. Now, Brussels wants to investigate whether a EU-wide data retention policy can be reintroduced. The Commission has launched an online impact assessment to study the effects of such a measure. Thousands of citizens have already voiced their concerns about the plan. European ministers will now discuss the plan, with the Presidency providing an update on the developments regarding the retention of electronic data. "As mentioned in the EU's Internal Security Strategy ProtectEU, the Commission plans to present a proposal for improving and harmonizing data retention regulations," said Justice and Security Minister Van Weel in the agenda for the upcoming JBZ meeting. "We expect other member states to also positively comment on the ProtectEU strategy and highlight their own priorities and focus areas." Recently, the government responded to Brussels' new security strategy. Foreign Minister Veldkamp stated that the government welcomes the security strategy. "The government recognizes the importance of access to data for law enforcement agencies and supports the roadmap on this. It also attaches great importance to a framework for data retention and looks forward to the proposed roadmap on encryption." After the upcoming JBZ meeting, a report will also be published on what was discussed.