Bulgaria Govt Set to Damp down Internet Tracking Draft Law

Tsvetanov was speaking after a meeting with the initiative committee who are against the interface proposal. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, has stated that the center-right GERB government is looking at the possibility of dispensing with the original interface proposal to monitor internet traffic and mobile phone calls.

Tsvetanov was speaking after a meeting with the initiative committee who are against the interface proposal which will allow the Ministry of Interior access through a direct interface to the data for the calls and the mobile devices positioning of every single citizen without any legal reason.

He added that if the interface plan is thrown out of the proposed amendments in the Electronic Communications Act, the Interior Ministry will insist on a maximum of 2 hours detailed access from all mobile and internet operators to allow “Ministry workers to do their jobs.”

Bulgaria PM Boyko Borisov stated that it the 2 hour option will be used when investigating murder and serious crimes and thus will not enter into the privacy of citizens.

Tsvetanov concluded that a Parliament debate will be held on the issue and that the current 160 days that are given to mobile operators to provide call data to the Ministry can only be changed with the proposed changes to the law.

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

Meanwhile, It was announced Friday that a protest is being planned in Sofia for January 14 outside the Parliament building to voice concerns about the draft amendments in the Electronic Communications Act.

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