Call for Action: Vote on the retention of air passenger data (PNR)

This article is also available in:
Deutsch: [Aufruf zum Mitmachen: Abstimmung über die Vorratsdatenspeicherung von Reisedaten (PNR) | https://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_11.11_Abstimmung_ueber_die_Vorratsdatenspeicherung_von_Reisedaten?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20130607]

On 10 June 2013, the European Parliament will decide on a EU-wide system for the retention of flight passenger data. You can contact your Members
of the European Parliament and tell them to defend your right to privacy and free movement!

The proposed Directive will undermine the rights of travellers since the use and retention of PNR will limit fundamental rights, such as non-discrimination, the right of privacy and the protection of personal
data (Article 8 of the Charter and Article 8 ECHR). In addition, there
is still no proof, that we need these data nor is there proof that these
data had been useful in the past, in other countries, to fight terrorism
and serious transnational crime.

The LIBE Committee had already voted it down with a clear majority of 30 to 25.

But now, the Conference of Presidents decidded to send the dossier back to the committee. We therefore urge the MEPs to vote on it on 12 June
and to reject the Directive. Please contact your MEPs and ask them to reject the EU-PNR now! You can find an example mail here:

“Dear /Name of the MEP/,

On 10 June you will be deciding on the Directive on the use of Passenger Name Record (EU- PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime.

The LIBE Committee, after more than two years of deliberation, came to a clear majority decision that the draft Directive should be rejected. It
is now important to uphold the credibility of the European Parliament’s procedures and to respect the expertise of the LIBE Committee. This can only be achieved by upholding the LIBE Committee’s decision and not seeking to circumvent it by a referral back to the Committee.

The LIBE Committee decided against the Directive for the protection of fundamental rights of EU-citizens! Please consider the following issues
for your decision on the EU-PNR Directive:

– The use of PNR data is disproportionate.

– The use of PNR data will limit fundamental rights, such as non-discrimination, the right of privacy and the protection of personal
data (Article 8 of the Charter and Article 8 ECHR).

– There is still no proof, that we need these data nor any proof, that these data had been useful in past in other countries to fight terrorism
and serious transnational crime.

– The discussion about the EU-PNR systems shows that all travel
movements of innocent individuals shall be monitored. Yet, this
monitoring of travel movements of citizens takes place without an
initial suspicion.

Yours sincerely,
(signature)”

EDRi-gram: LIBE EP Committee: No PNR data sharing within the EU (8.05.2013)
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number11.9/eu-pnr-directive-rejected-libe

EDRi-gram: EU PNR directive gets funding before being adopted (16.01.2013)
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number11.1/eu-pnr-funding-before-adoption

NoPNR campaign
http://www.nopnr.org/
http://pnr.digitalegesellschaft.de
http://pnr.vibe.at

(Contribution by Alexander Sander – NoPNR)