#PrivacyCamp23 - The EU can do better: How to stop mass retention of all citizen’s comm. data?
Channel: European Digital Rights
Date: 09/03/2023

Data retention is a topic that comes and goes. Plixavra Vogiatzoglou spoke about the judicial legislation of mass data retention and some challenges that arise from it. How can we distinguish if the interference is serious or not. Data retention on itself regardless of any harms or sensitive information collection constitutes interference and conclusion is even more justified when private and sensitive information is included. Interference should be assessed as serious by the fact that this vast amount of data being collected amplifies quote significantly the power information asymmetries between the citizens and the government. Second challenge refers to the differentiation between public and national security, which seems to be made on the basis of immediate and foreseen threats. And third challenge that was presented referred to making a balance between the entering of new technology and avoiding the facilitation of mass surveillance.

In Belgium, there are currently three data retention laws, subjecting people to mass surveillance. In Germany, there is space to establish an alternative to the mass data retention approach. Furthermore, the panel discussed how the European Court of Justice reacts to the pressure coming from the Member States and what actions could be taken to defend fundamental digital rights.

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