ePrivacy Directive – Directive 2002/58/EC – Article 1 – Scope and aim
Articles
Article 1Scope and aim
1. This Directive provides for the harmonisation of the national provisions required to ensure an equivalent level of protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, and in particular the right to privacy and confidentiality, with respect to the processing of personal data in the electronic communication sector and to ensure the free movement of such data and of electronic communication equipment and services in the Community.
2. The provisions of this Directive particularise and complement Directive 95/46/EC for the purposes mentioned in paragraph 1. Moreover, they provide for protection of the legitimate interests of subscribers who are legal persons.
3. This Directive shall not apply to activities which fall outside the scope of the Treaty establishing the European Community, such as those covered by Titles V and VI of the Treaty on European Union, and in any case to activities concerning public security, defence, State security (including the economic well-being of the State when the activities relate to State security matters) and the activities of the State in areas of criminal law.
Amended text
This Article is shown as amended by Directive 2009/136/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 (the ‘Citizens’ Rights Directive’) (OJ L 337, 18.12.2009, p. 11, ELI), as incorporated in the consolidated text of 19 December 2009 (EUR-Lex).
https://epd.digiphile.law/article/article-1.html
Text as at 19 September 2026.
This is an unofficial convenience version of the EU ePrivacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC, as amended). It is presented “as is” without guarantee of accuracy, completeness or reliability. See the source text for the official version. This site was last updated in September 2026.