Bulgaria Interior Ministry Pushes Communication Tracking Bill

The bill to allow the Interior Ministry access to all telephone and Internet communications was adopted last Thursday on the first reading by the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Security and Public Order. File Photo

The Bulgaria Deputy Interior Minister, Veselin Vuchkov, has backed the proposed amendments in the Electronic Communications Act at the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Security and Public Order Monday.

Vuchkov stated that it is essential to create a legal environment for enabling police departments to combat crime.

The bill to allow the Interior Ministry access to all telephone and Internet communications was adopted last Thursday on the first reading by the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Security and Public Order.

On Monday the draft bill was discussed at a workshop in which legal experts, NGOs and the Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Kalin Georgiev voiced their views.

According to Georgiev new forms of crime using sophisticated technology is the main reason behind the need for these changes. According to him they will also meet the requirements of Bulgaria’s international partners.

Earlier Monday the rightist Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party said they will not support changes in the law, if the Interior Ministry receives permanent access to communication records as this “will not give results in fighting organized crime, while at the same time leaving Bulgarian citizens the impression that they are being followed for life.”

According to DSB there is a need for strong regulations over the use of any information gathered and for the destruction of records after a set period.

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