August 25, 2010

Some European ISPs ordered by courts to block access to gambling

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Europäische ISPs sollen Zugang zu Glücksspiel-Seiten sperren | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2126] As a result of a case introduced by Arjel (the new French online gambling regulating authority) against Gibraltar-based site stanjames.com which had not responded to the authority’s formal request to stop its services to French users, on 6 August […]

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September 23, 2009

Macedonia: Activities for citizen education about their privacy rights

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Mazedonien: Veranstaltungen zur Weiterbildung der Bürger in Bezug auf ihre Rechte auf Privatsphäre | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1526] Macedonian: [Македонија: „Слобода наместо страв“: едукација на граѓаните за нивните права | http://www.metamorphosis.org.mk/aktivnosti/sloboda-namesto-strav-2009-edukacija-na-graganite-za-nivnite-prava.html] Due to the low level of public awareness on privacy issues, the activities of the international action “Freedom Not Fear” […]

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August 25, 2010

Romanian Government wants to issue Electronic ID cards

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Rumänische Regierung plant elektronische ID-Karten | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2127] The Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Administration (MAI) submitted for public consultation, in the middle of August 2010, a new draft Ordinance for issuing mandatory electronic ID cards for Romanians starting with 1 January 2011. Even though the decision […]

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September 23, 2009

"Freedom not Fear" 2009 – Protests Against the Surveillance Mania

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [„Freiheit statt Angst“ 2009 – Proteste gegen den Überwachungswahn | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1521] On Saturday, 12 September 2009, civil liberties activists in many countries again took it to the streets under the motto “Freedom not Fear – Stop the Surveillance Mania”. It was the second time these activities took place […]

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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

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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