Moves to pass confidential data to US criticised

CIVIL rights groups have criticised planned EU legislation which allows the Government pass on the contents of phone, fax and e-mail messages to US authorities.

Outlining the extension of an agreement which has been in operation here for 50 years, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the new laws should hold no fears for the public.

However, Statewatch spokesperson Tony Bunyan said the laws were ambiguous and contradictory and exceeded Europol’s mandate as it was incompatible with the data protection principles of the EU.