Privacy watchdogs question German data retention law proposals

Privacy watchdogs in Germany have questioned whether proposed new data retention laws in the country are “constitutional”. In a resolution adopted at a conference of Germany’s data protection commissioners last week, concerns were raised about draft rules which would impose new requirements on telecoms companies to retain ‘traffic data’ relevant to communications and hand them over to Germany’s law enforcement and security agencies. According to an automated translation of the resolution, posted on the website of Germany’s federal commissioner for data protection and freedom of information, the privacy watchdogs said the German government has not outlined why the retention of the data is necessary. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2015/june/privacy-watchdogs-question-german-data-retention-law-proposals/