Interior Ministry Confirms Security Agencies can Obtain Telecom Data

The interior ministry confirmed on Friday that the security agencies can have access to the telecommunications data after the competent judicial committee approved the decision.

According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, the telecommunications ministry is “no longer” linked to the issue as it has a “minor” role in deciding whether the security agencies can obtain this data.

“The only authority that has the jurisdiction regarding this matter is the competent judicial committee,” the statement said.

It added that Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and the judicial committee agreed to allow the security agencies to obtain the telecom data.

The issue has previously caused controversy in Lebanon as the March 14 opposition coalition accuses Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui of refusing to provide security services with the data on the pretext of protecting people’s privacy.

But Sehnaoui stresses that his ministry cannot provide to anyone “all data” without the approval of the judicial committee in line with a cabinet decision.