Europe to Follow US Lead in Sharing Data to Fight Crime

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The United States and the European Union are aligning rules to help crime-fighters access suspects’ emails, text messages, photos and other data, despite simmering trans-Atlantic tensions.

The European Commission proposed that national law enforcement authorities be allowed to access data stored on tech companies’ servers in other EU countries or the US, to speed cross-border criminal investigations. Tech firms that don’t comply risk fines. The proposal from the EU’s executive body follows a similar measure recently enacted by the US. This is known as the Cloud Act, which amends US law to clarify that law-enforcement warrants can apply to data that tech companies store abroad. Under the EU's proposal, tech companies would have to respond to requests from authorities within 10 days, or in urgent cases, within six hours. Authorities can oblige internet companies to prevent evidence from being deleted before access is granted. The access to detailed data, such as email messages, would apply for crimes specific to cyberspace, such as hacking or distributing child pornography, or for other serious criminal offenses with a sentence of at least 3 years. Tech firms could challenge any request in court.


Europe to Follow US Lead in Sharing Data to Fight Crime