Prague - Information about the calls people make using their mobile phones will not be a private matter anymore.
The Czech Senate approved a amendment to the telecommunication bill that requires mobile network operators to store information about who, when, from where and to whom mobile telephone calls are made.
Data about abandoned calls are to be collected too.
Minister: It is required by Brussels
According to the organization Iuridicum Remedium that monitors privacy violations this measure is undoubtedly a threat to privacy.
Industry and Trade Minister Martin Říman however claims that the amendment only reflects the requirements of an EU directive.
"Those proposing the amendment are claiming they're following EU guidelines that we are apparently obliged to follow, but they forgot to add that the directive is currently being discussed by the European Court Tribunal and a number of constitutional courts," objects Filip Pospíšil from Iuridicum Remedium.
Police and secret services
The Office of Personal Data Protection raised objections as well.
Pospíšil believes that the directive requires operators to store personal data for no more than six months.
In amendment states that they have to store it from 6 to 12 months, with a special bill setting the precise limit.
Currently, only the police can get such private information from mobile operators. The amendment could however enable secret services to obtain it too.
President's approval needed
Both chambers of parliament approved the telecommunication law amendment without broader discussion.
The only significant objection was raised by Security Committee chief and former Interior Minister František Bublan who didn't like the state having to pay all the financial costs.
In order for the amendment to come into force it only need to be signed by President Václav Klaus.
