FBI official: The lack of a data retention law affects cooperation between US and Romanian institutions

The lack of a personal data retention law affects the collaboration capacity of law enforcement institutions in the US and Romania, according to Russell Ashenden, FBI’s attaché to the US Embassy in Bucharest. “It is important to have a legal framework so that investigators have the necessary tools to collect information and evidence needed to combat common threats such as organized crime, corruption in the public system, cyber crime and terrorism,” said Ashenden, according to Hotnews.ro. The Romanian Parliament adopted last year the laws related to personal data retention, pre-pay cards and cyber security, also known as the Brig Brother laws. In January, the Constitutional Court said the laws were unconstitutional and sent them back for reexamination. Romania’s Chamber of Deputies rejected the legislation at the beginning of March this year. The FBI representative said that legislators in Romania should “find a balance between protecting national security and protecting civil liberties." When asked about FBI’s involvement in the Microsoft and EADS cases, the US official said he can’t comment on "the “existence or the status of possible ongoing investigations in the US and Romania.” However, he said that FBI has an “excellent working relationship with the Romanian system of criminal justice.” When asked to assess the risk of jihadist attacks in Romania, especially after what happened in Paris, Ashenden said that although still low, the risk is increasing, as seen throughout Europe. He made the statements during FBI director James Comey’s visit in Romania on March 3. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com