Intelligence must be destroyed after 50 years

Belgium’s two intelligence agencies, State Security for civilian matters and SGRS for the military, will now be obliged to destroy all records kept on individuals at the end of 50 years, if not sooner, under a new law that comes into force today, De Tijd reports.

The law, signed by federal justice minister Koen Geens and defence minister Steven Vandeput, marks the first time in the intelligence services’ 185-year history that a term has been placed on the collection of intelligence.

The first-ever law covering the intelligence services was passed in 1998 and included provisions for the storage and destruction of personal details. However, there was no fixed term attached to it. The new royal decree is the missing link in that legislation, said Geens.

“The maintenance of information on people who are involved in an investigation is essential for the operation of our intelligence and security services,” Geens told De Tijd. “By retaining essential data, the services are able to link people from different investigations with each other. But when the information is no longer needed, it has to be destroyed.”

The 50-year term is subject to a few exceptions such as information with historical value, as recognised by the State Archives, and information still needed for legal proceedings or for continuing intelligence investigations. In those cases, the situation will be re-evaluated every five years.

At the other end of the spectrum, information that has no further use can be destroyed before the 50-year term is over. The two intelligence services will appoint an “advisor on the protection of personal privacy,” said Geens, to oversee the services’ compliance with the new law.

Photo: Belgium’s state security building in Brussels ©Belpress