This Is Data Retention - A Tech/Policy Rising Discussion
Channel: Access Now
Date: 03/02/2015

Data retention mandates require private companies to store sensitive user information for prescribed periods of time. Those time periods are often longer than the company needs or wants to keep the data on its servers for its own operations. Consequently, most industries have come out against data retention proposals. Civil society voices — explaining that these mandates hurt user privacy and expose users to increased security risks — are also critical. Meanwhile, the highest court in the EU recently struck down the Data Retention Directive, explaining that it was antithetical to fundamental rights.

Nevertheless, data retention policies continue to pop up around the world. The UK recently passed a new data retention law, and other EU member states are considering provisions in the wake of the EU court decision. In the U.S., lawmakers discussed the topic during negotiations on NSA reform proposals, and Mexico has also recently passed a law including data retention mandates.

It's clear that that the issue of data retention is here to stay. But how do these mandates work? Are the necessary for national security? And what are the real risks posed by their inclusion in law? With U.S. Internet Service Provider Association's Kate Dean and Joseph Lorenzo Hall from the Center of Democracy and Technology, moderated by Berin Szoka, President of TechFreedom.