{"attribution":{"source":"legal.exploreworldai.com","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=eu:c-178-22","cite_as":"NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=eu:c-178-22)","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision","version":"legal-2026-11-02","fingerprint":"ewai:eu:f6410a","proof":"sha256:a3ecdec21605291abdf73c26b09dd026b6c353b7182fdefa57d3d75c3755804f","jurisdiction":"eu","lang":"en","publisher":"NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal","terms":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om"},"brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","item":{"schema_version":"1.0.0","id":"eu:c-178-22","jurisdiction":"eu","lang":"en","brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","brand":{"product":"NovaCopilot","platform":"ExploreWorldAI","infrastructure":"ExploreWorld Legal","infrastructure_url":"legal.exploreworldai.com","legal_entity":"Valkiv Ventures AB","permanent_url":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot","source":"Source: NovaCopilot","powered_by":"Powered by NovaCopilot","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor"},"sections":[{"title":"62022CJ0178","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Grand Chamber)","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"30 April 2024 (\n *1\n )","paragraphs":["para_4","para_5","para_6","para_7","para_8","para_9","para_10","para_11","para_12","para_13","para_14","para_15","para_16","para_17","para_18","para_19","para_20","para_21","para_22","para_23","para_24","para_25","para_26","para_27","para_28","para_29","para_30","para_31","para_32","para_33","para_34","para_35","para_36","para_37","para_38","para_39","para_40","para_41"]},{"title":"Judgment","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"1","paragraphs":["para_44"]},{"title":"2","paragraphs":["para_46"]},{"title":"Legal context","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"European Union law","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Directive 2002/58","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"3","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Recitals 2 and 11 of Directive 2002/58 state:","paragraphs":["para_52","para_53","para_54"]},{"title":"(11)","paragraphs":["para_56"]},{"title":"4","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Under Article 2 of that directive, headed ‘Definitions’:","paragraphs":["para_59"]},{"title":"The following definitions shall also apply:","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"(a)","paragraphs":["para_62"]},{"title":"(b)","paragraphs":["para_64"]},{"title":"(c)","paragraphs":["para_66"]},{"title":"(d)","paragraphs":["para_68","para_69"]},{"title":"5","paragraphs":["para_71","para_72","para_73","para_74"]},{"title":"6","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Article 6 of Directive 2002/58, entitled ‘Traffic data’, provides:","paragraphs":["para_77","para_78","para_79","para_80","para_81","para_82"]},{"title":"7","paragraphs":["para_84","para_85"]},{"title":"8","paragraphs":["para_87","para_88"]},{"title":"Italian law","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Legislative Decree No 196/2003","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"9","paragraphs":["para_92","para_93"]},{"title":"10","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Article 132(3 bis ) of Legislative Decree No 196/2003 provides:","paragraphs":["para_96"]},{"title":"11","paragraphs":["para_98"]},{"title":"Criminal Code","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"12","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Article 624 of the codice penale (Criminal Code), entitled ‘Theft’, provides:","paragraphs":["para_102","para_103","para_104"]},{"title":"13","paragraphs":["para_106","para_107","para_108","para_109"]},{"title":"(3) if the guilty person is carrying weapons or drugs without using them;","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"(4) in the case of pickpocketing;","paragraphs":["para_112","para_113","para_114","para_115","para_116"]},{"title":"(8 bis ) if the offence is committed on public transport;","paragraphs":["para_118"]},{"title":"The Code of Criminal Procedure","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"14","paragraphs":["para_121","para_122"]},{"title":"15","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Article 269(2) of that code provides:","paragraphs":["para_125"]},{"title":"The dispute in the main proceedings and the question referred for a preliminary ruling","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"16","paragraphs":["para_128"]},{"title":"17","paragraphs":["para_130"]},{"title":"18","paragraphs":["para_132"]},{"title":"19","paragraphs":["para_134"]},{"title":"20","paragraphs":["para_136"]},{"title":"21","paragraphs":["para_138"]},{"title":"22","paragraphs":["para_140"]},{"title":"23","paragraphs":["para_142"]},{"title":"24","paragraphs":["para_144","para_145","para_146"]},{"title":"Admissibility of the request for a preliminary ruling","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"25","paragraphs":["para_149"]},{"title":"26","paragraphs":["para_151"]},{"title":"27","paragraphs":["para_153"]},{"title":"28","paragraphs":["para_155"]},{"title":"29","paragraphs":["para_157"]},{"title":"Consideration of the question referred","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"30","paragraphs":["para_160"]},{"title":"31","paragraphs":["para_162"]},{"title":"32","paragraphs":["para_164"]},{"title":"33","paragraphs":["para_166"]},{"title":"34","paragraphs":["para_168"]},{"title":"35","paragraphs":["para_170"]},{"title":"36","paragraphs":["para_172"]},{"title":"37","paragraphs":["para_174"]},{"title":"38","paragraphs":["para_176"]},{"title":"39","paragraphs":["para_178"]},{"title":"40","paragraphs":["para_180"]},{"title":"41","paragraphs":["para_182"]},{"title":"42","paragraphs":["para_184"]},{"title":"43","paragraphs":["para_186"]},{"title":"44","paragraphs":["para_188"]},{"title":"45","paragraphs":["para_190"]},{"title":"46","paragraphs":["para_192"]},{"title":"47","paragraphs":["para_194"]},{"title":"48","paragraphs":["para_196"]},{"title":"49","paragraphs":["para_198"]},{"title":"50","paragraphs":["para_200"]},{"title":"51","paragraphs":["para_202"]},{"title":"52","paragraphs":["para_204"]},{"title":"53","paragraphs":["para_206"]},{"title":"54","paragraphs":["para_208"]},{"title":"55","paragraphs":["para_210"]},{"title":"56","paragraphs":["para_212"]},{"title":"57","paragraphs":["para_214"]},{"title":"58","paragraphs":["para_216"]},{"title":"59","paragraphs":["para_218"]},{"title":"60","paragraphs":["para_220"]},{"title":"61","paragraphs":["para_222"]},{"title":"62","paragraphs":["para_224"]},{"title":"63","paragraphs":["para_226"]},{"title":"Costs","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"64","paragraphs":["para_229"]},{"title":"On those grounds, the Court (Grand Chamber) hereby rules:","paragraphs":["para_231","para_232","para_233","para_234"]}],"paragraphs":[{"text":"62022CJ0178","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"JUDGMENT OF THE COURT (Grand Chamber)","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"30 April 2024 (\n *1\n )","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Processing of personal data in the electronic communications sector – Confidentiality of communications – Providers of electronic communications services – Directive 2002/58/EC – Article 15(1) – Articles 7, 8, 11 and Article 52(1) of the Charter of Fundamental R …","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"In Case C‑178/22,","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"REQUEST for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 TFEU from the Giudice delle indagini preliminari presso il Tribunale di Bolzano (the judge in charge of preliminary investigations at the District Court, Bolzano, Italy), made by decision of 20 February 2022, received at the Court on 8 March 2022, in the criminal proceedings","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"Unknown individuals,","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"joined party:","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Bolzano,","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"THE COURT (Grand Chamber),","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"composed of K. Lenaerts, President, L. Bay Larsen, Vice-President, A. Arabadjiev, A. Prechal, K. Jürimäe, T. von Danwitz and Z. Csehi, Presidents of Chambers, J.-C. Bonichot, S. Rodin, P.G. Xuereb (Rapporteur), D. Gratsias, M.L. Arastey Sahún and M. Gavalec, Judges,","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"Advocate General: A.M. Collins,","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"Registrar: C. Di Bella, Administrator,","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"having regard to the written procedure and further to the hearing on 21 March 2023,","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"after considering the observations submitted on behalf of:","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"the Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Bolzano, by F. Iovene, sostituto procuratore della Repubblica,","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"the Italian Government, by G. Palmieri, acting as Agent, and by S. Faraci, avvocato dello Stato,","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"the Czech Government, by A. Edelmannová, O. Serdula, M. Smolek, T. Suchá and J. Vláčil, acting as Agents,","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"the Estonian Government, by M. Kriisa, acting as Agent,","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"Ireland, by M. Browne, Chief State Solicitor, A. Joyce and M. Tierney, acting as Agents, and by D. Fennelly, Barrister-at-Law,","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"the French Government, by A. Daniel, A.-L. Desjonquères, B. Fodda and J. Illouz, acting as Agents,","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"the Cypriot Government, by E. Neophytou, acting as Agent,","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"the Hungarian Government, by Zs. Biró-Tóth and M.Z. Fehér, acting as Agents,","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"the Netherlands Government, by M.K. Bulterman, A. Hanje and J. Langer, acting as Agents,","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"the Austrian Government, by A. Posch, J. Schmoll, C. Gabauer, K. Ibili and E. Samoilova, acting as Agents,","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"the Polish Government, by B. Majczyna, D. Lutostańska and J. Sawicka, acting as Agents,","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"–","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"the European Commission, by S.L. Kalėda, H. Kranenborg, L. Malferrari and F. Wilman, acting as Agents,","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"after hearing the Opinion of the Advocate General at the sitting on 8 June 2023,","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"gives the following","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"Judgment","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"1","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"This request for a preliminary ruling concerns the interpretation of Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on priv …","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"2","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"The request has been made in the context of a referral to the Giudice delle indagini preliminari presso il Tribunale di Bolzano (the judge in charge of preliminary investigations at the District Court, Bolzano, Italy) by the Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Bolzano (Public Prosecutor’ …","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"Legal context","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"European Union law","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"Directive 2002/58","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"3","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"Recitals 2 and 11 of Directive 2002/58 state:","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"‘(2)","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"This Directive seeks to respect the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the [Charter]. In particular, this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for the rights set out in Articles 7 and 8 of [the Charter].","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"…","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"(11)","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"Like Directive 95/46/EC [of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data ( OJ 1995 L 281, p. 31 )], this Directive does not address issues of protection of fundament …","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"4","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"Under Article 2 of that directive, headed ‘Definitions’:","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"‘Save as otherwise provided, the definitions in Directive [95/46] and in Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework Directive) [( OJ 2002 L 108, p. 33 ),] shall apply.","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"The following definitions shall also apply:","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"(a)","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"“user” means any natural person using a publicly available electronic communications service, for private or business purposes, without necessarily having subscribed to this service;","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"(b)","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"“traffic data” means any data processed for the purpose of the conveyance of a communication on an electronic communications network or for the billing thereof;","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"(c)","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"“location data” means any data processed in an electronic communications network or by an electronic communications service, indicating the geographic position of the terminal equipment of a user of a publicly available electronic communications service;","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"(d)","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"“communication” means any information exchanged or conveyed between a finite number of parties by means of a publicly available electronic communications service. This does not include any information conveyed as part of a broadcasting service to the public over an electronic communications network except to the extent that the information can be related to the identifiable subscriber or user receiving the information;","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"…’","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"5","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"Article 5 of Directive 2002/58, entitled ‘Confidentiality of the communications’, provides:","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"‘1.   Member States shall ensure the confidentiality of communications and the related traffic data by means of a public communications network and publicly available electronic communications services, through national legislation. In particular, they shall prohibit listening, tapping, storage or o …","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"…","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"3.   Member States shall ensure that the storing of information, or the gaining of access to information already stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user is only allowed on condition that the subscriber or user concerned has given his or her consent, having been provided with clear …","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"6","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"Article 6 of Directive 2002/58, entitled ‘Traffic data’, provides:","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"‘1.   Traffic data relating to subscribers and users processed and stored by the provider of a public communications network or publicly available electronic communications service must be erased or made anonymous when it is no longer needed for the purpose of the transmission of a communication without prejudice to paragraphs 2, 3 and 5 of this Article and Article 15(1).","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"2.   Traffic data necessary for the purposes of subscriber billing and interconnection payments may be processed. Such processing is permissible only up to the end of the period during which the bill may lawfully be challenged or payment pursued.","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"3.   For the purpose of marketing electronic communications services or for the provision of value added services, the provider of a publicly available electronic communications service may process the data referred to in paragraph 1 to the extent and for the duration necessary for such services or …","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"…","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"5.   Processing of traffic data, in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4, must be restricted to persons acting under the authority of providers of the public communications networks and publicly available electronic communications services handling billing or traffic management, customer enquiri …","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"…’","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"7","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"Article 9 of Directive 2002/58, entitled ‘Location data other than traffic data’, provides in paragraph 1:","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"‘Where location data other than traffic data, relating to users or subscribers of public communications networks or publicly available electronic communications services, can be processed, such data may only be processed when they are made anonymous, or with the consent of the users or subscribers t …","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"8","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"Article 15 of that directive, entitled ‘Application of certain provisions of Directive [95/46]’, states, in paragraph 1 thereof:","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"‘Member States may adopt legislative measures to restrict the scope of the rights and obligations provided for in Article 5, Article 6, Article 8(1), (2), (3) and (4), and Article 9 of this Directive when such restriction constitutes a necessary, appropriate and proportionate measure within a democr …","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"Italian law","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"Legislative Decree No 196/2003","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"9","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"Article 132(3) of decreto legislativo n. 196 – Codice in materia di protezione dei dati personali, recante disposizioni per l’adeguamento dell’ordinamento nazionale al regolamento (UE) 2016/679 del Parlamento europeo e del Consiglio, del 27 aprile 2016, relativo alla protezione delle persone fisiche …","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"‘Within the retention period laid down by law, if there is sufficient evidence of the commission of an offence for which the law prescribes the penalty of life imprisonment or a maximum term of imprisonment of at least three years, determined in accordance with Article 4 of the [codice di procedura …","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"10","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"Article 132(3 bis ) of Legislative Decree No 196/2003 provides:","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"‘Where there are reasons of urgency and reasonable grounds for believing that the delay could result in serious investigative difficulties, the Public Prosecutor’s Office is to order the acquisition of the data by reasoned decision, which shall be communicated immediately, or within 48 hours at the …","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"11","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"Lastly, under Article 132(3 quater ) of that legislative decree, ‘No use may be made of data acquired in breach of the provisions of paragraph 3 or paragraph 3 bis .’","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"Criminal Code","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"12","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"Article 624 of the codice penale (Criminal Code), entitled ‘Theft’, provides:","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"‘A person who takes movable property belonging to another, thereby depriving the holder of that property, with a view to making a profit for him or herself or for another shall be liable to imprisonment of between six months and three years and a fine of between EUR 154 and EUR 516.","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"…","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"The offence shall be punishable on foot of a complaint by the injured party, unless one or more of the conditions referred to in Article 61(7) and Article 625 are met.’","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"13","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"The first paragraph of Article 625 of the Criminal Code, entitled ‘Aggravating circumstances’, provides:","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"‘The offence referred to in Article 624 shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment of between two and six years and a fine of between EUR 927 and EUR 1500:","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"…","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"(2) if the guilty person uses violence against property or makes use of any fraudulent means;","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"(3) if the guilty person is carrying weapons or drugs without using them;","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"(4) in the case of pickpocketing;","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"(5) if the offence is committed by three or more persons, or by a single person, disguised as or posing as a public officer or a person exercising a public function;","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"(6) if the offence relates to travellers’ luggage in any vehicle, station, airport or on any platform, or in any hotel or any establishment selling food or beverages;","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"(7) if the offence relates to property present in public offices or establishments, or confiscated or seized, or exposed by necessity or custom or for the purposes of public faith, or intended for public service or public benefit, defence or veneration;","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"(7 bis ) if the offence relates to metal components or other materials removed from infrastructure intended for the supply of energy, transport, telecommunications or other public services and operated by public or private entities under a public concession;","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"(8) if the offence relates to three or more heads of cattle in a herd, or to bovine or equine animals, whether or not present in a herd;","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"(8 bis ) if the offence is committed on public transport;","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"(8 ter ) if the offence is committed against a person who is using or has just used the services of a credit institution, a post office or an automated teller machine.’","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"The Code of Criminal Procedure","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"14","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"Under Article 4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, entitled ‘Rules for determining jurisdiction’:","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"‘The court’s jurisdiction shall be determined by considering the penalty imposed by the law for each completed or attempted offence. Continuing offences, recidivism and the circumstances in which the offence is committed shall not be considered, except for aggravating circumstances for which the law sets a type of penalty other than the ordinary penalty for the offence and those having special effect.’","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"15","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"Article 269(2) of that code provides:","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"‘… the recordings shall be kept until final judgment is delivered. However, in order to protect confidentiality, the interested parties may, where the documents are not necessary for the purposes of the proceedings, request the judge who authorised or validated the interception to destroy the recordings that have not been included in the file.’","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"The dispute in the main proceedings and the question referred for a preliminary ruling","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"16","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"Following two complaints lodged in respect of acts of mobile phone theft committed on 27 October and 20 November 2021 respectively, the Public Prosecutor’s Office brought two sets of criminal proceedings, under Articles 624 and 625 of the Criminal Code, against unknown perpetrators for the commission of offences of aggravated theft.","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"17","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"In order to identify the perpetrators of those thefts, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested, on the basis of Article 132(3) of Legislative Decree No 196/2003, on 7 December and 30 December 2021 respectively, from the Giudice delle indagini preliminari presso il Tribunale di Bolzano (judge respon …","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"18","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"The referring court is uncertain whether Article 132(3) of Legislative Decree No 196/2003 is compatible with Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58 as interpreted by the Court in its judgment of 2 March 2021, Prokuratuur (Conditions of access to data relating to electronic communications) ( C‑746/18 , EU:C:2021:152 ).","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"19","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"The referring court recalls that, in accordance with paragraph 45 of that judgment, national provisions that permit public authorities to have access to telephone records, containing a set of traffic or location data that are liable to allow precise conclusions to be drawn concerning the private lif …","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"20","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"In that regard, the referring court states that, in its judgment No 33116 of 7 September 2021, the Corte suprema di cassazione (Supreme Court of Cassation, Italy) held that, having regard to the margin of interpretation concerning the determination of offences constituting serious threats to public …","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"21","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"According to the referring court, that three-year minimum period above which the maximum term of imprisonment for an offence justifies that that offence can give rise to disclosure of telephone records to the public authorities is such that those records could be disclosed to them in order to prosec …","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"22","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"In that court’s view, the national provision at issue would thus fail to observe the principle of proportionality laid down in Article 52(1) of the Charter, which requires the seriousness of the offence being prosecuted to be weighed against the fundamental rights which are infringed in order to pro …","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"23","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"The referring court states that Italian courts have a very limited margin of discretion to refuse authorisation to obtain telephone records since, pursuant to the provision at issue, authorisation must be granted where there is ‘sufficient evidence of the commission of an offence’ and the data reque …","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"24","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"In those circumstances the Giudice delle indagini preliminari presso il Tribunale di Bolzano (judge responsible for preliminary investigations at the District Court, Bolzano) decided to stay the proceedings and to refer the following question to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling:","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"‘Does Article 15(1) of Directive [2002/58] preclude a provision of national law such as that contained in Article 132[(3)] of Legislative Decree [No 196/2003], … [which] … provides:","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"“3. Within the retention period laid down by law, if there is sufficient evidence of the commission of an offence for which the law prescribes the penalty of life imprisonment or a maximum term of imprisonment of at least three years, determined in accordance with Article 4 of the Code of Criminal P …","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"Admissibility of the request for a preliminary ruling","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"25","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"The Italian Government and Ireland submit that the request for a preliminary ruling is in part inadmissible. They note that the requests for access to the data retained by providers of electronic communications services were submitted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, on the basis of Article 132(3) …","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"26","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"In that regard, it should be noted that, according to settled case-law, in the context of the cooperation between the Court and the national courts provided for in Article 267 TFEU, it is solely for the national court before which a dispute has been brought, and which must assume responsibility for …","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"27","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"It follows that questions relating to EU law enjoy a presumption of relevance. The Court may refuse to rule on a question referred by a national court for a preliminary ruling only where it is quite obvious that the interpretation of EU law that is sought bears no relation to the actual facts of the …","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"28","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"As it is, by reproducing in full Article 132(3) of Legislative Decree No 196/2003, the question referred for a preliminary ruling, even though it fails to distinguish between the types of offences to which that provision applies, necessarily encompasses the offences of aggravated theft for which the requests for access to personal data were submitted in the main proceedings.","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"29","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"Accordingly, that question is not hypothetical and is, therefore, admissible.","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"Consideration of the question referred","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"30","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"As the French Government stated in its written observations, the question referred by the national court, as worded, invites the Court to rule on the compatibility of Article 132(3) of Legislative Decree No 196/2003 with Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58.","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"31","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"In that regard, it should be borne in mind that, in the context of the procedure established by Article 267 TFEU, the Court has no jurisdiction to rule on the interpretation of provisions of national laws or regulations or on their conformity with EU law. It is settled case-law that, in a request fo …","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"32","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"That said, it is settled case-law that, if questions have been improperly formulated or if they go beyond the scope of the powers conferred on the Court by Article 267 TFEU, the Court is free to extract from all the information provided by the referring court and, in particular, from the statement o …","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"33","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"Furthermore, the Court may decide to take into consideration rules of EU law to which the national court has made no reference in the wording of its question (judgment of 17 November 2022, Harman International Industries, C‑175/21 , EU:C:2022:895 , paragraph  31 and the case-law cited).","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"34","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"In the light of the foregoing, it must be held that by its question the referring court asks, in essence, whether Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58, read in the light of Articles 7, 8, 11 and Article 52(1) of the Charter, must be interpreted as precluding a national provision which requires a natio …","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"35","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"As a preliminary point, it should be borne in mind that, as regards the circumstances in which access to traffic and location data retained by providers of electronic communications services may, for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences, be gr …","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"36","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"It is also appropriate to recall the case-law of the Court according to which only the objectives of combating serious crime or preventing serious threats to public security are capable of justifying serious interference with the fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter, arisi …","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"37","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"By its question, the referring court seeks, in essence, to ascertain whether such a serious interference may be authorised for offences such as those referred to in the national legislation at issue in the main proceedings.","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"38","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"As regards, first of all, the question of whether access such as that at issue in the main proceedings may be classified as serious interference with the fundamental rights guaranteed in Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter, it should be noted that, in order to identify the perpetrators of the alleged th …","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"39","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"Access to such a set of traffic or location data appears liable to allow precise conclusions to be drawn concerning the private lives of the persons whose data have been retained, such as the habits of everyday life, permanent or temporary places of residence, daily or other movements, the activitie …","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"40","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"As is apparent from paragraph 39 of the judgment of 2 March 2021, Prokuratuur (Conditions of access to data relating to electronic communications) ( C‑746/18 , EU:C:2021:152 ), that assessment cannot be rejected solely because the two requests for access to the traffic or location data at issue conc …","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"41","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"Similarly, for the purposes of assessing the existence of a serious interference with the rights guaranteed in Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter, the fact that the data to which the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested access may not be the data of the owners of the mobile telephones at issue, but the …","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"42","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"Consequently, in the light of the case-law cited in paragraph 36 above, since the interferences with fundamental rights caused by access to data, such as those at issue in the main proceedings, are liable to be regarded as serious, they can be justified only by the objectives of combating serious crime or preventing serious threats to public security.","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"43","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"Next, while it is for national law to determine the conditions under which providers of electronic communications services must grant the competent national authorities access to the data in those providers’ possession, such legislation must lay down clear and precise rules governing the scope and c …","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"44","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"As regards, lastly, the definition of the concept of ‘serious offence’, it is apparent from the case-law that, in so far as the European Union has not legislated in that field, criminal legislation and the rules of criminal procedure fall within the competence of the Member States. They must, howeve …","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"45","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"In that regard, it should be noted that the definition of criminal offences, mitigating and aggravating circumstances and penalties reflects both social realities and legal traditions, which vary not only between the Member States but also over time. However, those realities and traditions are of undoubted importance in determining which offences are considered to be of a serious nature.","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"46","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"Consequently, in view of the division of competences between the European Union and the Member States under the FEU Treaty and the considerable differences between the legal systems of the Member States in the area of criminal law, it must be found that it is for the Member States to define ‘serious offences’ for the purposes of applying Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58.","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"47","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"However, the definition of ‘serious offences’, adopted by the Member States, must comply with the requirements arising from Article 15(1) of that directive, read in the light of Articles 7, 8 and 11 and Article 52(1) of the Charter.","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"48","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"It should be borne in mind, in that regard, that, in so far as Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58 permits Member States to adopt legislative measures that ‘restrict the scope’ of the rights and obligations laid down, inter alia, in Articles 5, 6 and 9 of that directive – such as those arising from t …","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"49","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"Furthermore, it is clear from the third sentence in Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58 that measures taken by the Member States under that provision must comply with the general principles of EU law, which include the principle of proportionality, and ensure respect for the fundamental rights guaran …","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"50","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"It follows that the Member States cannot distort the concept of ‘serious offence’ and, by extension, that of ‘serious crime’, by including within it, for the purposes of applying Article 15(1), offences which are manifestly not serious offences, in the light of the societal conditions prevailing in the Member State concerned, even though the legislature of that Member State has provided for such offences to be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of three years.","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"51","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"It is in particular in order to ascertain that there is no such distortion that it is essential that, where access by the competent national authorities to retained data carries the risk of a serious interference with the fundamental rights of the person concerned, that access be subject to a prior …","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"52","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"In the present case, it is apparent from the order for reference that Article 132(3) of Legislative Decree No 196/2003 lays down the conditions under which access to data retained by providers of electronic communications services may be granted by a court hearing a reasoned request from a public au …","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"53","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"The referring court is, however, uncertain whether the definition of ‘serious offences’, for the prosecution of which access to data may be granted, resulting from that provision, is too broad since it covers offences which cause only a limited social disturbance.","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"54","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"In that regard, it should be noted, first, that a definition according to which ‘serious offences’, for the prosecution of which access to data may be granted, are those for which the maximum term of imprisonment is at least equal to a period determined by law, is based on an objective criterion. Th …","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"55","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"Secondly, it follows from the case-law cited in paragraph 48 above that the definition given, in national law, of ‘serious offences’ that may allow access to data retained by providers of electronic communications services, allowing precise conclusions to be drawn concerning the private lives of the …","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"56","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"A minimum period fixed by reference to a maximum term of imprisonment of three years does not appear, in that regard, to be excessively low (see, to that effect, judgment of 21 June 2022, Ligue des droits humains, C‑817/19 , EU:C:2022:491 , paragraph  150 ).","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"57","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"Admittedly, since the definition of ‘serious offences’, in respect of which access to data retained by electronic communications service providers may be requested, is established by reference not to a minimum applicable penalty but to a maximum applicable penalty, it cannot be excluded that access …","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"58","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"Setting a minimum period above which the maximum term of imprisonment for an offence justifies the classification of that offence as a serious offence is not, however, necessarily contrary to the principle of proportionality.","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"59","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"First, this appears to be the case of a provision such as that at issue in the main proceedings, since, as is apparent from the order for reference, that provision refers in a general manner to access to data retained by providers of electronic communications services, without specifying the nature …","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"60","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"Secondly, the court or independent administrative body, acting in the context of a prior review carried out following a reasoned request for access, must be entitled to refuse or restrict that access where it finds that the interference with fundamental rights which such access would constitute is s …","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"61","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"Indeed, the court or body entrusted with carrying out the review must be able to strike a fair balance between, on the one hand, the legitimate interests relating to the needs of the investigation in the context of combating crime and, on the other hand, the fundamental rights to privacy and protect …","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"62","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"In particular, as part of its examination of the proportionality of the interference with the fundamental rights of the person concerned caused by the request for access, that court or body must be able to exclude such access where it is sought in the context of proceedings for an offence which is manifestly not a serious offence, within the meaning of paragraph 50 above.","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"63","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"It follows from the foregoing that the answer to the question referred for a preliminary ruling is that Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58, read in the light of Articles 7, 8 and 11 and Article 52(1) of the Charter, must be interpreted as not precluding a national provision which requires a national …","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"Costs","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"64","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"Since these proceedings are, for the parties to the main proceedings, a step in the action pending before the referring court, the decision on costs is a matter for that court. Costs incurred in submitting observations to the Court, other than the costs of those parties, are not recoverable.","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"On those grounds, the Court (Grand Chamber) hereby rules:","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"Article 15(1) of Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications), as amended by Directive 2009/136/ …","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"must be interpreted as not precluding a national provision which requires a national court, acting in the context of a prior review carried out following a reasoned request for access to a set of traffic or location data – which are liable to allow precise conclusions to be drawn concerning the priv …","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"[Signatures]","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"(\n *1\n ) Language of the case: Italian.","paragraph_id":"para_234"}],"word_count":8277,"cites":["C-746/18","C-100/21","C-28/22","C-206/22","C-175/21","C-470/21","C-202/18","C-238/18","C-140/20","C-817/19"],"sha256":"d2426eb85123fd37438c691d3688dd7ad9dbd9f6f272b23460d24c5de3bb01cc","source_url":"https://publications.europa.eu/resource/celex/62022CJ0178.ENG.xhtml.ECR_62022CJ0178_EN_01.html","fetched_at":"2026-09-29T08:29:37.094+00:00","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/eu/c-178-22","risk_graph":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=eu:c-178-22","relations_graph":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=eu:c-178-22","changes":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/eu-praxis/changes","agent":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/eu-praxis/agent?id=eu:c-178-22","verification":{"stored_sha256":"d2426eb85123fd37438c691d3688dd7ad9dbd9f6f272b23460d24c5de3bb01cc","recomputed_sha256":"d2426eb85123fd37438c691d3688dd7ad9dbd9f6f272b23460d24c5de3bb01cc","intact":true,"checked_at":"2026-11-02T12:57:24.688Z"},"verification_scope":{"stored_hash_is_source_verification":false,"official_source_comparison":"not_performed","legal_review":"not_assessed"},"decision_object":{"schema_version":"1","object_id":"decision:eu:c-178-22","judgment_class":"C","operative_part":"not_in_register","cites_count":10,"word_count":8277,"decision_url":null},"agent_links":{"agent_root":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/agent.json","agent_overview":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/rapid/agent/overview"}},"hash":"sha256:a3ecdec21605291abdf73c26b09dd026b6c353b7182fdefa57d3d75c3755804f","version":"legal-2026-11-02","expires":"2026-11-03T00:00:00.000Z","dependency":{"index_version":"legal-2026-11-02+legal-2026-11-02+2026-11-02T12:52:16","content_hash":"sha256:a3ecdec21605291abdf73c26b09dd026b6c353b7182fdefa57d3d75c3755804f","revalidate_after":"2026-11-02T13:57:24.979Z","max_copy_age_seconds":3600,"policy":"revalidate-required; attribution-preferred","changelog":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/dependency","verify":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/verify","stale_copy_invalid":true},"canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=eu:c-178-22","follow":[{"rel":"risk","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=eu:c-178-22"},{"rel":"relations","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=eu:c-178-22"},{"rel":"agent","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/eu-praxis/agent?id=eu:c-178-22"},{"rel":"changes","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/whats-new?jurisdiction=eu"}],"disclaimer":"Source reference with official identifier. 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