The primary objective in data retention is traffic analysis and mass surveillance.

[Eugen Leitl]

It's official. See page 17 of http://www.wikileaks.org/spyfiles/files/0/188_201106-ISS-ELAMAN3.pdf

"The primary objective in data retention is traffic analysis and mass surveillance. 
By analyzing the retained data governments can identify an individual's location, 
their associates and members of a group, such as political opponents."
                                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That's remarkably candid.


-- 
Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
______________________________________________________________
ICBM: 48.07100, 11.36820 http://www.ativel.com http://postbiota.org
8B29F6BE: 099D 78BA 2FD3 B014 B08A  7779 75B0 2443 8B29 F6BE