Processing of Identification Data for Electronic Communication and Procedural Regulation in European Countries

Considering the range of technical means available in the field of communication and the extent to which they are used,the issue of inviolability of personal life is facing difficult challenges day after day. The current situation is especially critical in the context of operative investigative and covert investigative activities of law enforcement agencies. In terms of inviolability of human privacy, it is particularly relevant the processing of identification data for electronic communication, covert listening and surveillance by law enforcement agencies, which is due to their authority to conduct covert video and audio recording, photo-recording, listening to telephone conversations and more in order to investicate the crime. The activities of law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of crimes have alwaysbeen in the center of public interest, especially if these activities concern the restriction of basic human rights and freedoms. The need for such a restriction arises particularly when the covert investigative and operative investigative activities are at issue. Based on the urgency of the mentioned issue, the goal of the work is the discussion of standards for the protection of identification data for electronic communication by law enforcement agencies across European developed countries, analysis of existing practices in terms of privacy protection and analysis of the legislative mechanisms for managing and overseeing the security services of European countries.