The controversial Data Retention Directive received its final seal of approval on Tuesday, when Ministers at the Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted the Directive with a qualified majority. Irish and Slovak Ministers voted against the measure. In general terms, the Directive aims to harmonise Member States’ provisions relating to the retention of communications data, in order to ensure that the data, which can identify the caller, the time and the means of communication, is available for the purpose of the investigation, detection and prosecution of serious crime. The Directive is not concerned with the content of the communications…
