The new Big Brother law has been adopted by the Lower Chamber on Wednesday after the Judiciary Commission issued a favourable report the day before.
Two weeks ago the Senate adopted the amendments to Law no.506/2004 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector.
Thus, according to the amendments, the authorities will be given access to data only at the request of courts of law, criminal prosecution, defence and national security bodies, but with prior authorization from a legally appointed judge.
“Upon the request of the courts of law or prosecution bodies with a jurisdiction in national defence and security, with prior authorisation from the judge appointed by the law, providers of electronic communication services for individuals as well as providers of public electronic communications networks shall made available to them immediately, or no later than 48 hours, traffic data, device identification numbers and localisation data in accordance with the provisions regarding the protection of privacy,” reads the bill.
The bill also says the communications companies will be under an obligation to preserve traffic data of subscribers or users for three years.
The bill won the support of all the leaders of the parliamentary parties at a consultation this May at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace and cleared Senate on September 7.
The Chamber of Deputies is the decision-making chamber in this instance.
