Recital 70

(70)Access should be considered direct and immediate when the information is contained in a database, register or an electronic data retrieval system enabling the FIU to obtain it directly, through an automated mechanism, without the involvement of an intermediary. Where the information is held by another entity or authority, direct access entails that those authorities or entities transmit it to the FIU in an expeditious manner without interfering with the content of the requested data or the information to be provided. The information should not undergo any filtering. In some situations, however, the confidentiality requirements attached to the information might not allow the provision of the information in an unfiltered manner. This is the case, for example, where tax information can only be provided to FIUs upon agreement of a tax authority in a third country, where direct access to law enforcement information could jeopardise an ongoing investigation, as well as in relation to passenger name record data collected pursuant to Directive (EU) 2016/681 of the European Parliament and of the Council ²¹ . In such cases, Member States should make every effort to ensure effective access to the information by FIUs, including by allowing FIUs to have access under similar conditions to those offered to other authorities at national level to facilitate their analytical activities.