Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 21 December 2016

Tele2 Sverige AB v Post- och telestyrelsen and Secretary of State for the Home Department v Tom Watson and Others

Requests for a preliminary ruling from the Kammarrätten i Stockholm and the Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division)

Reference for a preliminary ruling — Electronic communications — Processing of personal data — Confidentiality of electronic communications — Protection — Directive 2002/58/EC — Articles 5, 6 and 9 and Article 15(1) — Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union — Articles 7, 8 and 11 and Article 52(1) — National legislation — Providers of electronic communications services — Obligation relating to the general and indiscriminate retention of traffic and location data — National authorities — Access to data — No prior review by a court or independent administrative authority — Compatibility with EU law

Joined Cases C-203/15 and C-698/15


Top of the page Documents in the Case
Document Date Name of the parties Subject-matter Curia EUR-Lex Autres Liens
Order
ECLI:EU:C:2017:222
16/03/2017 Tele2 Sverige
Judgment (OJ)
03/02/2017 Tele2 Sverige
Judgment
ECLI:EU:C:2016:970
21/12/2016 Tele2 Sverige
Judgment (Summary)
ECLI:EU:C:2016:970
21/12/2016 Tele2 Sverige
Application (OJ)
19/06/2015 Tele2 Sverige
Opinion
ECLI:EU:C:2016:572
19/07/2016 Tele2 Sverige
Top of the page Legal analysis of the decision or of the case

Reports of Cases

published in the electronic Reports of Cases (Court Reports - general)

Subject-matter

Information not available

Systematic classification scheme

1.
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.11 Approximation of laws
    4.11.11 Information and communication technologies
      4.11.11.01 Telecommunications
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.11 Approximation of laws
    4.11.11 Information and communication technologies
      4.11.11.01 Telecommunications
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.07 Respect for private and family life
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.08 Protection of personal data
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.11 Freedom of expression and information
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.11 Approximation of laws
    4.11.11 Information and communication technologies
      4.11.11.01 Telecommunications
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.02 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
      1.04.02.02 Scope of the protection of rights and principles
        1.04.02.02.01 Limitation on the exercise of rights and freedoms (Article 52(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights)
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.11 Approximation of laws
    4.11.11 Information and communication technologies
      4.11.11.01 Telecommunications
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.11 Approximation of laws
    4.11.11 Information and communication technologies
      4.11.11.01 Telecommunications
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.01 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
      1.04.01.00 General
3 Legal proceedings
  3.04 Reference for a preliminary ruling
    3.04.02 Jurisdiction of the Court of Justice


Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

Operative part

Opinion


Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

  • 04/05/2015

Date of the Opinion

  • 19/07/2016

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

21/12/2016


References

Publication in the Official Journal

Judgment: OJ C 53 from 20.02.2017, p.11

Application: OJ C 221 from 06.07.2015, p.5

Name of the parties

Tele2 Sverige

Notes on Academic Writings

  1. Skubic, Zoran: Pavšalna obveznost hrambe podatkov o prometu in o lokaciji je (še vedno) v nasprotju s pravom Unije, Pravna praksa 2017 nº 5 p.28-29 (SL)
  2. Berlin, Dominique: Conservation et accès des données personnelles, La Semaine Juridique - édition générale 2017 nº 3 p.93 (FR)
  3. Gazin, Fabienne: Protection des données personnelles, Europe 2017 Février Comm. nº 2 p.11-13 (FR)
  4. Lehofer, Hans Peter: Nationale Regelung zur Vorratsdatenspeicherung, die sich allgemein auf alle Teilnehmer erstreckt und sämtliche Verkehrsdaten erfasst, ist mit der DatenschutzRL für elektronische Kommunikation nicht vereinbar, Österreichische Juristenzeitung 2017 p.281-282 (DE)
  5. Novák ml., Jiří: Soudní dvůr EU upřesnil podmínky pro uchovávání provozních a lokalizačních údajů, Bulletin advokacie 2017 nº 3 p.66-69 (CS)
  6. Roßnagel, Alexander: Vorratsdatenspeicherung rechtlich vor dem Aus?, Neue juristische Wochenschrift 2017 p.696-698 (DE)
  7. Križnar, Primož: IP-naslov za potrebe kazenskega postopka, Pravna praksa 2017 nº 14 p.16-20 (SL)
  8. Tsolias, Grigoris: Dikaio Meson Enimerosis & Epikoinonias 2017 p.161-184 (EL)
  9. Frenz, Walter: Keine Pflicht zur allgemeinen Speicherung von Verkehrs- und Standortdaten, Deutsches Verwaltungsblatt 2017 p.183-186 (DE)
  10. Falot, Nathalie ; Hijmans , Hielke: Tele2 / de afweging tussen privacy en veiligheid nader omlijnd, Nederlands tijdschrift voor Europees recht 2017 p.44-52 (NL)
  11. Bréchot, Xavier: Clap de fin pour la conservation généralisée des données de connexion en Europe ?, Revue de l'Union européenne 2017 n° 606 p.178-187 (FR)
  12. Peyrou, Sylvie: Arrêt « Tele2 Sverige » : l'interdiction du stockage de masse de données à caractère personnel réaffirmée par la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne, Journal de droit européen 2017 nº 237 p.107-109 (FR)
  13. Sandhu, Aqilah: Die Tele2-Entscheidung des EuGH zur Vorratsdatenspeicherung in den Mitgliedstaaten und ihre Auswirkungen auf die Rechtslage in Deutschland und in der Europäischen Union, Europarecht 2017 p.453-469 (DE)
  14. Dommering, E.J.: Nederlandse jurisprudentie ; Uitspraken in burgerlijke en strafzaken 2017 nº 186 (NL)
  15. Priebe, Reinhard: Vorratsdatenspeicherung und kein Ende, Europäische Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsrecht 2017 p.136-139 (DE)
  16. Ollila, Riitta: Teletunnistetietojen säilytysvelvollisuus - Euroopan unionin tuomioistuimen Tele2-tuomio, Lakimies 2017 nº 3-4 p.494-504 (FI)
  17. Tracol, Xavier: The judgment of the Grand Chamber dated 21 December 2016 in the two joint tele2 Sverige and Watson cases: The need for a harmonised legal framework on the retention of data at EU level, Computer Law Review International 2017 p.1-12 (EN)
  18. Mbioh, Will R: Post-och Telestyrelsen and Watson and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, European Data Protection Law Review 2017 Vol. 3 p.273 - 282 (EN)
  19. Ollila, Riitta: Tele2 Sverige AB - Från datalagring till domstolsprövning, Europarättslig tidskrift 2017 nº 3 p.615-626 (SV)
  20. Wacher Lentz, Lene: Logning af teledata i lyset af Tele2-dommen, Juristen 2017 nº 5 p.173-181 (DA)
  21. Derksen, Roland: Unionsrechtskonforme Spielräume für anlasslose Speicherung von Verkehrsdaten?, Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht 2017 p.1005-1009 (DE)
  22. Takis, Athanasios: Armenopoulos 2017 p.304-306 (EL)
  23. Schasmin, Piret ; Ginter, Carri: Lahendite Tele2 Sverige ja Digital Rights Ireland mõju sideandmete mugavkasutusele Eestis, Juridica: Tartu Ülikooli õigusteaduskonna ajakiri 2017 nº 1 p.42-52 (ET)
  24. Kouvakas, Ioannis: Elliniki Epitheorisi Evropaïkou Dikaiou 2017 p.119-123 (EL)
  25. Beauvais, Pascal ; Benlolo-Carabot, Myriam: Droit pénal de l'Union européenne, Revue trimestrielle de droit européen 2017 n°4 p.884-893 (FR)
  26. Simon, Denys: Protection juridictionnelle, Europe 2017 novembre nº 11 p.19-20 (FR)
  27. Forest, David: Conservation des données de connexion et métadonnées : un nouveau coup de semonce à la surveillance de masse en Europe, Dalloz IP / IT 2017 nº 4 p.230-232 (FR)
  28. Tracol, Xavier: The judgment of the Grand Chamber dated 21 December 2016 in the two joint Tele2 sverige and Watson cases : The need for a harmonised legal framework on the retention of data at EU level, Computer Law & security review 33 (2017) 2017p.541-552 (EN)
  29. Arkadiusz, Lach: Obowiązek retencji danych telekomunikacyjnych i udostępniania tych danych organom ścigania, Monitor Prawniczy 2017 Vol. 11 p.612-616 (PL)
  30. Grzelak, Agnieszka: Trybunał Sprawiedliwości ponownie o relacji między koniecznością zwalczania przestępczości a prawem do prywatności, Europejski Przegląd Sądowy 2017 Vol. 3 p.31-36 (PL)
  31. Tinière, Romain: III. Droits fondamentaux - Cour de justice, gde ch., 21 décembre 2016, Tele2 Sverige AB e.a., aff. jtes C-203/15 et C-698/15, ECLI:EU:C:2016:970, Jurisprudence de la CJUE 2016. Décisions et commentaires (Ed. Bruylant - Bruxelles) 2017, p. 121-138 (FR)
  32. De Montecler, Marie-Christine: Techniques de renseignement : quand le Conseil d'Etat invite la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne à revoir sa jurisprudence, L'actualité juridique ; droit administratif 2018 p.1586 (FR)
  33. Pinho, Carlos: Lei de retenção de dados de comunicações eletrónicas: aposentar ou reformar?, Revista do Ministério Público 2018 nº 154 p.167-192 (PT)
  34. Virks, Karel: Sideandmed ja nende säilitamise olulisus, Juridica: Tartu Ülikooli õigusteaduskonna ajakiri 2018 nº 8 p.581-596 (ET)
  35. Șandru, Adriana-Maria: Privire critică asupra jurisprudenţei Curţii de Justiţie a UE referitor la interpretarea art. 8 privind protecţia datelor cu caracter personal din Carta drepturilor fundamentale a Uniunii Europene (CDFUE), Pandectele Romane: repertoriu trimestrial de jurisprudenta, doctrina si legislatie 2018 Vol. 1 p.29-31 (RO)
  36. Giovannangeli, Selvaggia Fausta: Data retention. Il caso TELE2 SVERIGE AB e WATSON e ALTRI: La Corte di giustizia UE fornisce gli standard da seguire, Casi decisi dalla Corte di Giustizia dell’Unione europea sui diritti fondamentali in materia contrattuale (G.Giappichelli Editore) 2018 p. 97-121 (IT)
  37. Pfisterer, Valentin M.: The Right to Privacy—A Fundamental Right in Search of Its Identity: Uncovering the CJEU’s Flawed Concept of the Right to Privacy, German Law Journal 2019, vol. 20, nº 5, p. 722-733 (EN)
  38. Azoulai, Loïc ; Ritleng, Dominique: « L'État, c'est moi ». Le Conseil d'État, la sécurité et la conservation des données, Revue trimestrielle de droit européen 2021 p. 349-379 (FR)
  39. Bergholm, Jenny: The Data Retention Saga Continued – from Tele2 Sverige to Privacy International and La Quadrature du Net, Tidskrift Utgiven av Juridiska föreningen i Finland 2021 Vol. 2 p. 111-139 (EN)
  40. Sirinelli, Jean: La protection des données de connexion par la Cour de justice : cartographie d'une jurisprudence européenne inédite, Revue trimestrielle de droit européen 2021, n° 2, p. 313-330 (FR)



Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Kammarrätten i Stockholm - Sweden

Subject-matter

  • Approximation of laws
  • Telecommunications
  • Data protection

Provisions of national law referred to

Rättegångsbalk (1942:740), articles 19 à 21 du chapitre 27 lag (2003:389) om elektronisk kommunikation, articles 16, sous a) à f), et 22, du chapitre 6 förordning(2003:396) om elektronisk kommunikation, articles 37 à 46

Provisions of international law referred to

Information not available

Procedure and result

  • Reference for a preliminary ruling
  • Reference for a preliminary ruling : dismissal on grounds of inadmissibility

Formation of the Court

grande chambre (Cour)

Judge-Rapporteur

von Danwitz

Advocate General

Saugmandsgaard Øe

Language(s) of the Case

  • Swedish, English

Language(s) of the Opinion

  • French