EU regulatory register · ePrivacy
Article 12Directories of subscribers
CELEX 32002L0058 · Read on 2026-08-18
Official text
Read from the EU Publications Office for this CELEX number. The wording stands as published; nothing here is rewritten or summarised.
1. Member States shall ensure that subscribers are informed, free of charge and before they are included in the directory, about the purpose(s) of a printed or electronic directory of subscribers available to the public or obtainable through directory enquiry services, in which their personal data can be included and of any further usage possibilities based on search functions embedded in electronic versions of the directory.
2. Member States shall ensure that subscribers are given the opportunity to determine whether their personal data are included in a public directory, and if so, which, to the extent that such data are relevant for the purpose of the directory as determined by the provider of the directory, and to verify, correct or withdraw such data. Not being included in a public subscriber directory, verifying, correcting or withdrawing personal data from it shall be free of charge.
3. Member States may require that for any purpose of a public directory other than the search of contact details of persons on the basis of their name and, where necessary, a minimum of other identifiers, additional consent be asked of the subscribers.
4. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply to subscribers who are natural persons. Member States shall also ensure, in the framework of Community law and applicable national legislation, that the legitimate interests of subscribers other than natural persons with regard to their entry in public directories are sufficiently protected.
Judgments of the Court of Justice
2 decisions
- C-129/21Court of Justice of the European Union
Proximus NV v Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit
Reference for a preliminary ruling – Processing of personal data and protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector – Directive 2002/58/EC – Article 12 – Public telephone directories and directory enquiry services – Subscriber’s consent – Obligations of the provider of directories and of directory enquiry services – Regulation (EU) 2016/679 – Article 17 – Right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’) – Article 5(2) – Article 24 – Information obligations and responsibility of the controller.
- C-543/09Court of Justice of the European Union
Deutsche Telekom AG v Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Electronic communications - Directive 2002/22/EC - Article 25(2) - Directive 2002/58/EC - Article 12 - Provision of directory enquiry services and directories - Obligation placed on an undertaking assigning telephone numbers to pass to other undertakings data in its possession relating to the subscribers of third-party undertakings.
The text is quoted from the official source and is not legal advice. A national court reads the language version that binds in its jurisdiction.
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