May 22, 2013 · Blogs

Apple’s privacy policy breaches German data protection laws

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Apples Datenschutzpolitik verstößt gegen deutsches Recht | https://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_11.10_Apples_Datenschutzpolitik_verstoesst_gegen_deutsches_Recht?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20130530] The Berlin Regional Court ruled on 7 May 2013 that 8 of Apple’s privacy policy clauses are infringing the German data protection laws and asked the company to rectify them. The case was brought to court by the German consumer […]

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July 14, 2010

Blocking of innocent websites by O2 Ireland

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [O2 Ireland sperrt harmlose Webseiten | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2064] The Irish mobile operator O2 has acknowledged accidentally blocking the image hosting website IMGUR through its system for blocking alleged child abuse material. There appears to have been no indication that there was, in fact, any illegal material hosted on that […]

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March 11, 2015 · Blogs

France implements Internet censorship without judicial oversight

The recent terrorist attacks in Europe have led to many statements implying the necessity of limiting citizens’ fundamental rights to ensure public safety. At the European level we are faced with the alarming prospect of air passenger data (Passenger Name Records, PNR) collection and long-term storage, while in France the legislative mills are turning even faster. […]

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June 29, 2011

EU-US PNR agreement found incompatible with human rights

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [EU-US PNR Abkommen mit Menschenrechten unvereinbar | http://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_9.13_PNR_Abkommen_mit_Menschenrechten_unvereinbar?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20110708] In a note sent on 16 May 2011 to the Director-General of DG Home Affairs, the Legal Service of the European Commission warns that the draft EU-US agreement on the exchange of PNR data is not compatible with fundamental rights. […]

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August 25, 2010

Google Street View faces citizens' reservation in EU

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [EU-Bürger gegen Google Street View | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2125] While Google intends to go on mapping localities in Europe through its Street View system, several EU countries continue to show reluctance to this service due to privacy issues. In May 2010, Google was faced with big concerns in Germany after […]

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July 13, 2011

OSCE: Access to the Internet should be a human right

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [OSZE: Netzzugang als Menschenrecht | http://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_9.14_OSZE_Netzzugang_als_Menschenrecht?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20110721] According to a report issued by the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) on 8 July 2011, the Internet should remain free and access to the Internet should be considered a human right. The report, based on data received from […]

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July 4, 2012

European Commission position on Do Not Track

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Do Not Track: Standpunkt der Europäischen Kommission | https://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_10.13_Do_Not_Track_Standpunkt_der_Europaeischen_Kommission?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20120704] The European Commission also got engaged in the discussions on the Do Not Track (DNT) at the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) by sending a letter asking W3C to require browser makers to give DNT options to users when they […]

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July 4, 2012

UK snooping law plans may come into contradiction with EC

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Britisches Schnüffelgesetz könnte Standpunkt der EU-Kommission widersprechen | https://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_10.13_Britisches_Schnueffelgesetz_koennte_Standpunkt_der_EU-Kommission_widersprechen?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20120704] The plans of the UK government of increasing the police online surveillance powers under the draft Communications Data Bill (CDB), also known as the “Snoopers’ Chart”, might come into contradiction with the European Commission’s position on citizens’ rights. If […]

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September 21, 2011

UK government wants search engines to fight copyright infringement

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Britische Regierung fordert von Suchmaschinen Unterstützung im Kampf gegen Urheberrechtsverletzungen | http://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_9.18_Britische_Regierung_fordert_von_Suchmaschinen_Unterstuetzung_im_Kampf_gegen_Urheberrechtsverletzungen?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20111004] During his speech at the Royal Television Society’s Cambridge Convention on 14 September 2011, UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt called on search engines and ISPs to bar links to websites which, allegedly, distributed material unlawfully, on […]

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December 2, 2009

Spain warned by Commissioner Reding for cutting off Internet access

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Kommissarin Reding verwarnt Spanien vor der Unterbindung von Internetzugängen| http://www.unwatched.org/node/1608] On 23 November 2009, at the Spanish Telecom Regulatory Authority (CMT) international meeting, Viviane Reding warned that the European Commission could take action against Spain if the government decided to cut the Internet access of file-sharers. “Repression alone […]

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December 2, 2009

EC changes the openess concept in the draft eGov EIF

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Europäische Kommission ändert Offenheitskonzept im Entwurf des eGov EIF| http://www.unwatched.org/node/1613] A second draft of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) was recently leaked to the press showing that the European Commission (EC) has decided to take the side of Business Software Alliance (BSA), a lobby group for proprietary software […]

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December 1, 2010

ICO started applying fines for Data Protection Act breaches

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [ICO verhängt erste Strafen für Datenschutz-Verstöße | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2395] After having received increased powers in April 2010, the UK Data protection authority (Information Commissioner Office – ICO) has recently used these powers to fine an organisation and a local authority for having breached the Data Protection Act. Hertfordshire County […]

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