August 25, 2010

French authority wants users to install spyware on their computers

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Französische Behörden wollen Nutzer zur Installation von Spyware verpflichten | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2128] Hadopi (the French Authority for the implementation of the 3 strikes law) did not make public the document regarding the draft specifications of the security measures for the Internet (part of the three strikes system), although the […]

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September 23, 2009

Three strikes law version 2 – one step closer to adoption in France

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Die Annahme der zweiten Version des Drei Treffer-Gesetzes rückt in Frankreich einen Schritt näher | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1522] On 15 September 2009, the French deputies adopted the amended version of the three strikes law (also known as Hadopi 2) by only 55% votes. A day after, the mixed paritary commission […]

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August 25, 2010

EU interim technical supervisor for EU-US Swift Agreement

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Einstweilige technische Aufsicht für EU-US SWIFT Abkommen | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2129] As on 1 August 2010 the so-called Swift agreement allowing EU citizens’ bank data to be transferred to US is to come into force, the European Commission will appoint an interim “technical” supervisor to oversee the searches of US […]

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September 23, 2009

MEPs ask for a new agreement on SWIFT bank data transfers to USA

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [MEPs fordern ein neues Abkommen über SWIFT-Bankdatentransfers an die USA | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1523] The European Parliament issued on 17 September 2009 a resolution reaffirming the need that for the Council and EU ministers to renegotiate the agreement to transfer bank data to the United States Treasury Department. MEPs have […]

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August 25, 2010

Azeri bloggers appeal rejected by the Supreme Court

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Einspruch von Azeri Bloggern vom Höchstgericht abgewiesen | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2130] The Azerbaijani Supreme Court took a disturbing decision on 19 August 2010 rejecting the appeal by bloggers and activists Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade thus upholding the previous decisions taken by the lower courts in 2009 that convicted the […]

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September 23, 2009

Ambitious study published by Swedish EU Presidency

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Schwedische Präsidentschaft gibt ehrgeizige Studie heraus | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1524] The Swedish Presidency of the EU has produced a study entitled “A Green Knowledge Society” that was made public in September 2009. The study aims to set the scene for the “tipping point in the transition to the knowledge economy” […]

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August 25, 2010

ENDitorial: Leaked draft of the new Czech Copyright Act

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [ENDitorial: Entwurf zum neuen CR-Urheberrechtsgesetz durchgesickert | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2131] A leaked draft of the new Czech Copyright Act was obtained by Pirate News at the beginning of August 2010, after the Ministry of Culture has initially declined the request of Czech Pirate Party to have access to the document […]

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September 23, 2009

UK music industry shows divided opinions on cutting off p2p users

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Britische Musikindustrie ist bei der Verbindungstrennung für p2p-Users geteilter Meinung | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1525] UK Secretary of State Lord Mandelson’s proposal to use technical measures to cut off connections of illegal file-sharers met different reactions within UK music industry. A coalition including the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), the British Academy […]

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September 23, 2009

A human rights commissioner in the European Commission ?

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Ein Menschenrechtskommissar für die Europäische Kommission? | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1527] On 16 September 2009 the European Parliament re-elected Jose Manuel Barroso for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission by a clear majority. During his campaign, Barroso presented his proposals for commissioner posts. At a meeting on […]

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September 8, 2010

Deleting illegal sites is more efficient than blocking them

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Löschen illegaler Seiten ist effizienter als Sperren | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2163] Eco, the Association of German Internet Economy, presented, in a press conference in Berlin on 1 September 2010, the situation related to fighting child pornography, reaching the conclusion that deleting was, in 98% of the cases, more efficient than […]

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September 23, 2009

EESC opinion on the impact of social networking sites on citizens

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [EESC-Stellungnahme über den Einfluß von Social Networking-Seiten auf die Bürger | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1528] The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) debated in a meeting organized on 17 September 2009 a new approach in regulating social networing websites, with the appointment of an EU Ombudsman to be responsible for the […]

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September 8, 2010

France: Imminent "Humanitarian Fingerprinting" of Roma with OSCAR

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Frankreich: Drohende Stigmatisierung von Roma durch OSCAR | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2164] The xenophobic anti-Roma campaign run by the French government following President Sarkozy’s discourse at the end of July has led to the brutal dismantling of numerous Roma camps, and to the expulsion of 1 000 foreign Roma people from […]

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