WRITTEN QUESTION E-3248/03 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council. Possibility of tracking cellphone users.
Date: 2003-11-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, data protection, mobile phone, personal data, protection of communications, protection of privacy, transmission network

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/227

peace process and to abstain from any action that may disrupt the Conference. Substantial financial
support has been provided by the EU, apart from Member States’ bilateral contributions, the Commission
has provided EUR 5,6 million to the peace process.

As to the fight against terrorism the EU is closely following the situation in Somalia. EU measures to
2.
facilitate police and judicial co-operation within the EU,
including a European arrest warrant and a
common definition of terrorism will also make it easier to combat terrorism with connections to Somalia.

In addition the EU has been playing an active role in the fight against the funding of terrorism, in particular
through the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 1373/2001 on the freezing of assets. The
Council recalls that the EU strictly abides by the Security Council stipulations regarding the list established
under resolutions 1267/1999 and 1333/2000 and referring to individuals and organizations belonging to
or associated with the Taliban and Al-Qaida including in Somalia.

3.
Despite the difficult situation in Somalia, the EU has been active in providing humanitarian assistance
to the Somali people. The European Commission in particular has been continuously present in the
country where it plays a central role in the donor community. An amount of EUR 25 million in
disbursements is being foreseen in 2003. The special aid package of EUR 199 million decided for the
period 2002-2007 will provide for this level to be sustained in the years to come.

(2004/C 84 E/0272)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3248/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(3 November 2003)

Subject: Possibility of tracking cellphone users

Information has recently come to light regarding the commercial possibilities offered by mobile telephony
networks which are being exploited by at least six companies in Great Britain, making it possible to
pinpoint the location of a cellphone user at a very low monthly cost (EUR 7,5). Clearly this opens the door
to the exploitation of sensitive personal information, for example by employers wishing to know where
their employees are at any given moment. A number of ideas were also put forward regarding a code of
conduct on the part of these companies which in theory, offer protection to cellphone users who do not
wish their whereabouts to be divulged. The arguments put forward however were singularly unconvincing,
given the danger of the emergence of a surveillance mentality with unforeseeable consequences.

What action does the Council
telephony to track their movements?

intend to take to protect European citizens from the use of mobile

Reply

(9 March 2004)

1.
Agreements between network operators, service providers and customers of mobile telephone
communications are to be negotiated between them, in respect of existing provisions, especially those for
data protection.

As concerns lawful interception of telecommunications, the Council has adopted a Resolution which

2.
reaffirms the need to observe the right of individuals to respect for their privacy (1).

(1) OJ C 329, 4.11.1996, p. 1.