Data retention: fronts remain hardened

Shortly before the ultimate call of the European Commission, the so-called data retention directive finally transposed into German law, controls the duration of conflict between the FDP and the Union on an escalation.

Although Chancellor Angela Merkel, the main contenders Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (FDP) and had Hans-Peter Friedrich (CSU) has warned the end of March communicate, to keep the fronts remain hardened, told the news magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ in its current edition.

The Minister of Justice blocked the development of a new law establishing a Vorratssdatenspeicherung some time. It belonged to himself with the plaintiffs, who brought an already existing scheme two years ago before the Bundesverfasungsgericht case.

Merkel Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger tried in person, to bring a change of direction. The minister had sent again but only after their alternative proposal of a so-called quick-freeze model for the coordination of the ministries involved.

Thereafter, available telephone connection data is stored only in specific cases of suspicion. For Internet data, it proposes a store without occasion, but only for a week. Interior Minister Friedrich is in contrast with his view that this model does not satisfy the requirements of EU Directive and therefore could not prevent the threat of proceedings before the European Court of Justice. For this one without occasion, six-month storage of connection data was necessary.

Against this background, the CDU and FDP are likely to be difficult to come before the end of the period from Brussels to a common result. Germany therefore threaten fines totaling several million euros to the EU. However, the policy adopted there is also under fire after the constitutional courts of several other EU countries, their governments have also prohibited the implementation.