FDPIC – Access to SWIFT tran­sac­tion data

In June 2006, it was repor­ted in the media that the US admi­ni­stra­ti­on had access to the tran­sac­tion data of the Socie­ty for World­wi­de Inter­bank Tele­com­mu­ni­ca­ti­on (SWIFT) as part of its efforts to com­bat ter­ro­rism. Sin­ce SWIFT is domic­i­led in Bel­gi­um, the Com­mis­si­on de la pro­tec­tion de la vie pri­vée, which is respon­si­ble the­re, inve­sti­ga­ted the events and published the results of its work on 27.9.2006.The Fede­ral Data Pro­tec­tion and Infor­ma­ti­on Com­mis­sio­ner (FDPIC), after lear­ning of the events through the press, reque­sted infor­ma­ti­on from the most important play­ers in the Swiss ban­king sec­tor. On the basis of the infor­ma­ti­on thus obtai­ned, the report from Bel­gi­um and the opi­ni­on of the Fede­ral Coun­cil for the atten­ti­on of the Natio­nal Council’s Busi­ness Audit Com­mis­si­on of 4.7.2006, the FDPIC has drawn up an opinion.

Source: FDPIC – Access to SWIFT tran­sac­tion data