“Terminal equipment“ means (a) equipment directly or indirectly connected to the interface of a public telecommunications network to send, process or receive information; in either case (direct or indirect), the connection may be made by wire, optical fibre or electromagnetically; a connection is indirect if equipment is placed between the terminal and the interface of the network; (b) satellite earth station equipment.

The storage of information or access to information already stored in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user, including about its software and hardware, other than by the end-user concerned shall be prohibited, except on certain grounds provided for in the ePrivacy Directive (or in the upcoming ePrivacy Regulation).