A new draft regulation is once again sparking debate in the Czech Republic. The government plans to oblige internet providers to store records of websites visited by users, allegedly to support police investigations. However, critics warn of a significant intrusion into privacy.
A debate has erupted over a regulation that could soon come into force, requiring internet providers to retain records of websites visited by users. According to news channel ČT24, the proposed amendment was drafted at the working level by the Ministries of Industry and the Interior. It is intended to help law enforcement agencies conduct investigations more effectively. However, critics argue it constitutes an excessive invasion of privacy.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the planned regulatory change—reported by news portal iROZHLAS.cz on Thursday—would ensure that telecommunications providers transmit only relevant communication data. This, they claim, would minimise the transfer of information about unrelated individuals and strengthen personal data protection. Currently, providers must supply information on all users who shared the same public IP address at a given time—potentially affecting hundreds or even thousands of people.
The regulation has drawn criticism, including from Pirate Party leader Zdeněk Hřib. “On behalf of the Pirate Party, I want to make it clear that we reject this state surveillance of internet users. No one has the right to spy on which websites someone visits,” Hřib stated.
In response to media reports, Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (STAN) wrote on the platform X that he understood any intrusion into privacy would trigger emotional reactions. “Personally, I do not support surveillance. If the regulation currently under expert discussion poses such a risk, it will certainly not be approved by me,” he added.
Prime Minister Fiala also ruled out the possibility of the new rules coming into force. “No. Such a measure will not be implemented under my government,” he declared on X.
A section of the opposition sought to place the issue on the agenda of Friday’s parliamentary session, but the governing coalition blocked all newly proposed points after around four hours of debate. According to opposition representatives, the fundamental question remains: who would actually benefit from this proposal? In the end, they argue, ordinary citizens would suffer, while cybercriminals could easily circumvent the regulation.
According to Minister for Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček (STAN), the proposal is not yet a finalised regulation but merely a draft under expert discussion as part of an interdepartmental process.
Experts contend the new regulation should not be seen as a step towards a ‘Big Brother’ state and would not result in the government collecting new data. Rather, it aims to clarify which data must be retained, providing greater legal certainty. However, concerns persist that the planned surveillance would yield little useful information.
The Czech Ministry of the Interior previously attempted a similar expansion of data retention in 2015, but without success. The arguments remain largely unchanged. However, the European Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the blanket and indiscriminate retention of data on all citizens was unlawful.
