German parliament okays law to store telephone and Internet data

Privacy infringement?: German telcos will be required to keep data on the timing and duration of telephone calls, as well as online traffic through IP addresses.

BERLIN: German telecom companies will be obliged to keep telephone and Internet data for up to 10 weeks to help fight crime under a new law passed by parliament on Oct 16 after a long political wrangle over possible infringements of individuals' rights. 

Under the data retention law, companies will be required to keep data on the timing and duration of telephone calls, as well as online traffic through IP addresses. Location data from mobile phones may only be stored for four weeks.