Security Police Want to Continue Bulk Retention of Telecommunications Data, Citing Russian Threat

According to the Security Police Department's director Margo Pallosson, the new telecommunications data usage and retention bill should ensure that the current situation remains unchanged, namely, that telecommunications companies retain an obligation to collect and store customer telecommunications data. The Security Police chief justifies this based on national security interests and the threat posed by Russia to Estonia.

In the opinion of Security Police Department Director Margo Pallosson, the new telecommunications data usage and retention bill should ensure that the current situation remains unchanged, that is, telecommunications companies retain the obligation to collect and store customer telecommunications data.

The Security Police chief cited national security interests and the threat emanating from Russia as justification for continuing bulk retention of telecommunications data. According to him, access to telecommunications data is of critical importance for security authorities to investigate intelligence and counterintelligence cases.

The retention of telecommunications data has been in a legally complicated position for years since EU court practice has repeatedly cast doubt on the compatibility of comprehensive, or so-called bulk, retention with fundamental rights. The European Court of Justice has found in several judgments that the general and indiscriminate retention of the population's telecommunications data violates the right to privacy.