Judicial Authority to Prevent Security Forces from Obtaining Telecom Data

A judicial authority will prevent on Wednesday security agencies from obtaining the telecom data after it extended the deadline until the end of Pope Benedict XVl's three-day visit to Lebanon.

Sources in the authority told As Safir newspaper that giving the complete telecom data to security forces to track crimes violates the constitution and it can't resume.

“We can't continue violating the constitution and the privacy of the citizens,” the sources said.

They pointed out that the data would be given to agencies upon their request after the authority thoroughly reviews their demand and decides whether it was necessary or not.

The authority, which is tasked with assessing the possibility of providing the security forces with the data, includes Judges Aouni Ramadan, Hatem Madi, and Shukri Sader.

In August, a Lebanese delegation visited France to view the modern mechanisms in intercepting phone calls.

The delegation came back with results contradictory to what the government decided regarding allowing the security agencies to benefit from the telecom data.

Media reports said that the delegation was informed that the norms require the security agencies to explain the results they reached after analyzing the data. “If the results don’t fulfill the purpose the data was taken for then the side that demanded to acquire the data would be held accountable.”

The March 14 alliance has constantly demanded the cabinet to approve providing the telecom data to security agencies to uncover the security incidents in Lebanon after MP Butros Harb and Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea were the targets of murder attempts.