EU committee agrees rules on phone details

European Union (EU) lawmakers have agreed to store details of all EU-wide phone calls and Internet use, but the steps do not go as far as some member states had wanted in the battle against terrorism and other serious crime.

The European Parliament's civil liberties committee voted by 33 to eight in favour of the new rules, whereby details on telephone calls and Internet use -- but not their content -- would be kept for six to 12 months.

Telecoms firms store data for three months for billing purposes, but some member states want it kept for up to 24 months. The full Parliament votes on the rules in December, and member state approval will also be needed.