The EU Court of Justice ruled that spying agencies in France and other EU countries can have full access to phone and internet users’ data under a ”serious threat to national security”.

In this kind of situation, the full access to phone and internet users’ data should be limited to a period that is “strictly necessary”, it said in a statement.

The court also ruled that unrestrained mass surveillance of such data is unlawful.

“Such an interference with fundamental rights must be accompanied by effective safeguards and be reviewed by a court or by an independent administrative authority,” the court said.