Data Retention Directive Is To Be Succeeded In The UK By Emergency Data Law

The EU Data Retention Directive (2006/24/EC) was introduced into EU legislation during the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Madrid, London and New York, and provided that communications firms should keep data about subscribers' activities for a period of between 6 and 24 months.

In April of this year, the ECJ gave a preliminary ruling in Joined Cases C-293/12 and C-594/12 Digital Rights Ireland and Seitlinger and Others that such Directive is invalid. The Court took the stand that by requiring the retention of particular data which may provide very precise information on the private lives of individuals, and by allowing competent national authorities to access such data, the Directive interferes in a particularly serious manner with the fundamental rights to respect for private life and to the protection of personal data.

Ever since the ruling, communication companies have been applying pressure on governments to clarify their legal...