Cabinet Grants Miqati Power to Decide on Transfer of Telecom Data to Security Agencies
Cabinet granted on Wednesday Prime Minister Najib Miqati the power to decide on the transfer of telecommunications data to security agencies despite the objection of a number of ministers.
The requested data dates from January 15 to May 15, 2012.
Miqati added that he requested that the content of the data not be revealed.
LBCI television had reported earlier that Ministers Salim Karam, Salim Jreissati, and Jebran Bassil objected to the decision to grant Miqati the power to decide on the transfer of telecom data, while Ministers Wael Abou Faour and Alaeddine Terro opposed the transfer of the complete data.
The security agencies' request was rejected by Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui, who argued that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority did not approve it.
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun had also rejected the request, deeming it as unconstitutional, while Miqati had explained that “Article 9 of article 140 of the wiretapping law stipulates that each of the defense and interior ministers could be granted the right to intercept phone calls through written consent and the prime minister's approval in order to garner information aimed at combating terrorism and crimes against the state.”
Source: Agence France Presse
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