Recital 43e

Terminal equipment of users of electronic communications networks and any information relating to the usage of such terminal equipment, whether, in particular, it is stored in or emitted by such equipment, requested from or processed in order to enable it to connect to another device and or network equipment, are part of the private sphere of the users requiring protection under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Given that such equipment contains or processes very sensitive data that may reveal details of the behaviour, psychological features, emotional, political and social preferences, including the content of communications, pictures, the location of individuals by accessing the GPS capabilities of the device, contact lists, and other information already stored in the device, the information related to such equipment requires enhanced privacy protection. Information related to the user’s device may also be collected remotely for the purpose of identification and tracking, using techniques such as the so-called ‘device fingerprinting’, often without the knowledge of the user, and may seriously intrude upon the privacy of these users. Furthermore, the so-called spyware, web bugs, hidden identifiers, tracking cookies and other similar unwanted tracking tools can enter user's terminal equipment without their knowledge in order to gain access to information, to store hidden information and to trace the activities. Techniques that surreptitiously monitor the actions of users, for example by tracking their activities online or the location of their terminal equipment, or subvert the operation of the users’ terminal equipment pose a serious threat to the privacy of users. Therefore, any such interference with the user's terminal equipment should be allowed only with the user's consent and for specific and transparent purposes.