05/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The highly controversial directive on telecommunication data retention adopted as a means to combat terrorism took effect on 1 October. The text, endorsed in February 2006 (EUROPE 9136, 9137) compels operators to keep telephone and email communication data for up to two years. The use of such data proved essential in the investigation into the attacks in London in July 2005. (bc)