(Telecompaper) The European Commission's net neutrality proposal goes against EU legislation on data protection and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, according to the European Data Protection Supervisor, the EU's privacy watchdog. In an opinion on the EC's proposal, the EDPS welcomed the inclusion of the principle of net neutrality, but said the measure "is devoid of substance because of the almost unlimited right of providers to manage internet traffic". According to the privacy regulator, the proposal promotes traffic management measures that allow the monitoring of users' internet communications, including emails sent or received, websites visited and files downloaded in order to filter, slow down or restrict access to illegal services or content. Such large-scale monitoring of communications goes against existing legislation on personal data protection and human rights. If the EC plans to continue with the proposal it must ensure that any any permitted monitoring or restriction of internet activity is done "solely to achieve a targeted, specific and legitimate aim", the EDPS said. The EDPS called on the Commission to outline more precise reasons for which traffic management measures can be applied. Any interference with user rights must be clearly communicated to users, allowing them to switch to those providers that apply less privacy-invasive traffic management techniques in their services. Furthermore, the EDPS wants national privacy regulators to have a greater role in supervising traffic management practices to ensure end-user rights are respected.