Charbel Says Providing Telecom Data Shouldn't Follow French Model

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel criticized on Thursday the adoption of the French model to decided whether or not the security agencies would be allowed to obtain the telecom data as the security situation in Lebanon is different.

“We can't dispense the telecom data in the meantime... The security agencies should be able to obtain it without violating the privacy of citizens,” Charbel said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

In August, a Lebanese delegation that visited France to view the modern mechanisms in intercepting phone calls came back with results contradictory to what the government decided regarding allowing the security agencies to benefit from the telecom data.

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.”

Charbel pointed out that the dispute over such a “delicate” matter had a negative impact on the importance of wiretapping in the country.

“It lost approximately 90 percent of its security value as culprits are now avoiding the use of cellular phone in their schemes,” Charbel said.

He stressed that the matter shouldn't be subjected to political dispute and discussed openly.

“We should tackle the matter confidentially among specialists away from media spotlight,” Charbel added.

The cabinet decided during a session held at the Grand Serail on Wednesday to form a committee headed by Prime Minister Najib Miqati and includes Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, Charbel, Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Nicolas Fattoush to study the mechanism of intercepting phone calls.

The committee is to discuss the possibility of amending law 140, which specifies the protection of communication data, however, the Telecommunications Ministry argues that any modification to the law hinders the freedoms of people.

A minister from Change and Reform bloc led by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun told As Safir that “there's no justification to allow the security agencies to obtain information about all the Lebanese at all times across the country... They will use it to spy on people and to blackmail them.”

“We reject violating the privacy of people in this hideous way,” the minister added.

For his part, Hizbullah's Minister of Administrative Development Mohammed Fneish told the daily that the issue was “settled” after being briefed on the French authorities' view of the matter

He noted that the security agencies should follow strict measures when using the telecom data.

“Any modifications to law 140 should respect this approach,” Fneish said.