Proposed roadmap for digital data access

The European Commission on Tuesday presented a roadmap to ensure that law enforcement authorities in the European Union (EU) have effective and lawful access to digital crime data.

The roadmap, integrated into the ProtectEU programme, the European Internal Security Strategy, focuses on six key areas: data retention, lawful interception, digital forensics, decryption, standardisation and Artificial Intelligence solutions for law enforcement.

According to a statement from the EU executive, crimes such as terrorism, organised crime, online fraud, drug trafficking, child sexual abuse, sexual extortion, kidnapping software and other crimes leave digital traces.

As 85% of criminal investigations now rely on electronic evidence , law enforcement authorities need better tools and a modernised legal framework to access digital data lawfully, while ensuring full respect for fundamental rights, the Commission believes.

The work plan presented aims to provide police authorities with adequate and up-to-date tools to legally access digital information, while safeguarding fundamental rights.

The ProtectEU programme, presented in April, includes measures to increase effectiveness in fighting crime , such as strengthening border protection and ensuring better information sharing with EU agencies and bodies.

Member states are expected to discuss the proposal at the informal meeting of the Council of Home Affairs Ministers on 22 and 23 July.