Blanket data retention: Law enforcement wants it, but they don’t need it
Septmeber 15, 2014 - by Raegan MacDonald.
On April 8, 2014, Europe’s highest court, the ECJ, released a longawaited decision on the controversial Data Retention Directive, confirming what we all knew: the blanket surveillance mandated by the Data Retention Directive is neither necessary nor proportionate. This landmark decision from the ECJ invalidated the Directive as a violation of fundamental rights. It was warmly welcomed by civil society groups, academics and an array of European and international institutions. However, one nagging thought remains: If this Directive was such a clearcut violation of fundamental rights, why did it remain in place for eight years?