April 30, 2025 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection

‘ProtectEU’ security strategy: a step further towards a digital dystopian future

The European Commission presented an internal security strategy that would undermine digital rights and even increase security threats. We unpack what ‘ProtectEU’ means for the EU’s future digital policy, including on encryption, data retention, and border surveillance.

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May 24, 2011 · Blogs

Commission plans to present flawed, illegal PNR proposal as "fait accompli"

Last week, DG HOME of the European Commission internally distributed a copy of the upcoming Passenger Name Record(PNR) agreement with the United States. The purpose of the text is to agree terms for sending air traveller data to the USA for the purpose of profiling citizens as a method of fighting crime. DG HOME presented […]

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March 10, 2021 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Data protection standards | Profiling practices | Surveillance and data retention

CJEU upholds strict requirements for law enforcement access to electronic communications metadata

Traffic and location data may allow precise conclusions to be drawn about the persons involved, e.g. their social relationships or the social environments frequented by them. In most cases, the CJEU has only allowed access to such data for serious crimes. However, the CJEU ruled that access to retained data is only allowed in cases of serious crime when the access implies a serious interference, and in all criminal cases when the access does not imply a serious interference.

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February 20, 2019 · Blogs | Privacy and data protection | Data protection standards | Privacy and confidentiality

FRA and EDPS: Terrorist Content Regulation requires improvement for fundamental rights

On 12 February 2019, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published an Opinion regarding the Regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online. In the same day, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) submitted its comments on the topic to the responsible committee in the European Parliament. These two texts complement EDRi’s […]

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July 14, 2010

Facebook faces serious fines in Germany

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Auf Facebook warten in Deutschland hohe Geldstrafen | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2065] The Hamburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information John Caspar has launched legal proceedings against the operator of the social network Facebook for illegally accessing and saving personal data of people who don’t use the respective social […]

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July 14, 2010

Yahoo is not bound to give personal data to Belgian authorities

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Yahoo muss belgischen Behörden keine personenbezogenen Daten übergeben | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2066] The Belgian Court of Appeal of Gand ruled on 30 June 2010 that Yahoo was not obliged to hand over personal data of its users to the Belgian authorities, in a case where the first instance had issued […]

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July 14, 2010

ENDitorial: French biometric passport: case still pending after 2 years

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [ENDitorial: Beschwerde gegen französische Biometrie-Pässe nach 2 Jahren immer noch anhängig | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2067] It took more than two years after the complaint against the French biometric passport was filed to have the conclusions of the “public rapporteur” publicly presented at the Conseil d’Etat (French highest administrative Court), on […]

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September 9, 2009

Stockholm Programme moves quickly towards adoption

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Annahme des Stockholmprogramms steht kurz bevor | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1510] The timetables for the Stockholm Programme have become a great deal clearer since the return of the Parliament following the summer break and the communication between the Swedish Presidency and relevant parliamentary committees. The Programme aims to set the priorities […]

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September 9, 2009

Telecom Package – All sides poised for the final battles

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Telekompaket: alle Seiten bereiten sich auf die letzte Schlacht vor | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1513] Preparations are being made in the EU institutions for the expected third reading of the Telecom Package. The timescale for the remainder of the legislative process will be determined by the official communication of the Council […]

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September 9, 2009

ICO takes action against personal data losses in UK

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [ICO geht gegen Verluste persönlicher Daten in Großbritannien vor | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1515] After UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found Wigan schools in breach of the Data Protection Act following a theft of a laptop with personal information on about 43 000 children and young people, the Wigan council […]

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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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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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