Protection of privacy in the telecommunications sector
In December 1997, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted a Directive concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the telecommunications sector. The text of this Directive has now been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The Directive provides for the harmonization of the provisions of the Member States required to ensure an equivalent level of protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, and in particular the right to privacy, with respect to the processing of personal data in the telecommunications sector, and to ensure the free movement of such data and of telecommunications equipment and services in the Community. The Directive covers, inter alia, provisions relating to the confidentiality of communications (phone tapping and other surveillance activities), traffic and billing data, calling and connected line identification facilities, automatic call forwarding, and directories of subscribers. Full implementation of the provisions of this Directive must be ensured by the Member States not later than 24 October 1998.