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European Union
Directive 2002/58/EC (Directive on privacy and electronic communications)
Article 2
(e)

Directive 2002/58/EC (Directive on privacy and electronic communications)

In forceThis text since 3 May 2006law://eu/dir/2002/58/art_2__pnt_e@2026-11-10

Version in force onWhereEuropean Union

Contents

(a) ‘user’ means any natural person using a publicly available…
(b) ‘traffic data’ means any data processed for the purpose of…
(c) ‘location data’ means any data processed in an electronic…1 change
(d) ‘communication’ means any information exchanged or conveye…
(e) ‘call’ means a connection established by means of a public…1 change
(f) ‘consent’ by a user or subscriber corresponds to the data…
(g) ‘value added service’ means any service which requires the…
(h) ‘electronic mail’ means any text, voice, sound or image me…1 change
(i) ‘personal data breach’ means a breach of security leading…1 change

Contents

(a) ‘user’ means any natural person using a publicly available…
(b) ‘traffic data’ means any data processed for the purpose of…
(c) ‘location data’ means any data processed in an electronic…1 change
(d) ‘communication’ means any information exchanged or conveye…
(e) ‘call’ means a connection established by means of a public…1 change
(f) ‘consent’ by a user or subscriber corresponds to the data…
(g) ‘value added service’ means any service which requires the…
(h) ‘electronic mail’ means any text, voice, sound or image me…1 change
(i) ‘personal data breach’ means a breach of security leading…1 change

(e)‘call’ means a connection established by means of a publicly available telephone service allowing two-way communication in real time;

Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Decision 2011/833/EU.

Key facts

Type: Directive · 2002/58/EC
Adopted: 12 Jul 2002
In force: 31 Jul 2002
Text current to: 19 Dec 2009
Made by: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Official: EUR-Lex 32002L0058 · ELI

Topics

approximation of laws data protection electronic equipment electronic mail personal data protection of privacy regulation of telecommunications transmission network Consumer protection Internal market - Principles Telecommunications

History · 1 version

3 May 2006Reading

Connections

Repealed by 1: Directive 2009/136/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 amending Directive 2002/22/EC on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services, Directive 2002/58/EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws
Interpreted by the courts in 23: La Quadrature du Net and Others v Premier ministre and Others (C-511/18, C-512/18, C-520/18); Productores de Música de España (Promusicae) v Telefónica de España SAU (C-275/06); Tele2 Sverige AB v Post- och telestyrelsen and Secretary of State for the Home Department v Tom Watson and Others (C-203/15); G.D. v The Commissioner of the Garda Síochána and Others (C-140/20); Criminal proceedings against H. K (C-746/18); Privacy International v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Others (C-623/17); Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände - Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband e.V. v Planet49 GmbH (C-673/17); Proceedings brought by Ministerio Fiscal (C-207/16); Mircom International Content Management & Consulting (M.I.C.M.) Limited v Telenet BVBA (C-597/19); Scarlet Extended SA v Société belge des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs SCRL (SABAM) (C-70/10); Josef Probst v mr.nexnet GmbH (C-119/12); La Quadrature du Net and Others v Premier ministre and Ministère de la Culture (C-470/21); HYA and Othersprokuratura (C-349/21); Criminal proceedings against HYA and Others (C-229/23); Deutsche Telekom AG v Bundesrepublik Deutschland (C-543/09); StWL Städtische Werke Lauf a.d. Pegnitz GmbH v eprimo GmbH (C-102/20); Proceedings brought by Spetsializirana prokuratura (C-350/21); Bonnier Audio AB and Others v Perfect Communication Sweden AB (C-461/10); Proximus NV v Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit (C-129/21); Inteligo Media SA v Autoritatea Naţională de Supraveghere a Prelucrării Datelor cu Caracter Personal (ANSPDCP) (C-654/23); Criminal proceedings against Unknown individuals (C-178/22); A. G. v Lietuvos Respublikos generalinė prokuratūra (C-162/22); Criminal proceedings against VD bd]& (C-339/20)
Cited by 15: X v Russmedia Digital SRL and Inform Media Press SRL (C-492/23)2 provisions; Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 (Digital Omnibus on AI); Regulation (EU) 2026/188110 provisions; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1730; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1735; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1731; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/855; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/798; Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/699; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/248; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2527; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2530; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2531; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2532; Regulation (EU) 2025/2643

Defined terms · 8

Show every defined term

call
means a connection established by means of a publicly available telephone service allowing two-way communication in real time;
communication
means any information exchanged or conveyed between a finite number of parties by means of a publicly available electronic communications service.
electronic mail
means any text, voice, sound or image message sent over a public communications network which can be stored in the network or in the recipient's terminal equipment until it is collected by the recipient;
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;
personal data breach
means a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed in connection with the provision of a publicly available electronic communications service in the Community.
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;
user
means any natural person using a publicly available electronic communications service, for private or business purposes, without necessarily having subscribed to this service;
value added service
means any service which requires the processing of traffic data or location data other than traffic data beyond what is necessary for the transmission of a communication or the billing thereof;

eu/dir/2002/58