November 18, 2009

Google's Street View faces trial in Switzerland

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Googles Street View steht vor einer Klage in der Schweiz | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1594] Switzerland continues its actions against Goggle’s Street View service. The Swiss Data Protection Authority has recently expressed its firm intention to bring Google to court on the matter. In August 2009, the Swiss Privacy Authority asked […]

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November 3, 2010

Google admits it was gathering passwords and emails via StreetView

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Google gesteht Sammlung von Passwörtern und E-Mails via StreetView ein | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2323] Google faces further investigation in the UK and Italy, after it has publicly admitted in a blog post on 22 October 2010 that its StreetView service has gathered more data than intended, “in some instances entire […]

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December 2, 2009

Stockholm programme adopted by the European Parliament

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Europäisches Parlament nimmt Stockholmer Programm an| http://www.unwatched.org/node/1610] After six months of preparation, the European Union has almost reached agreement (somewhat behind schedule) on its 5-year plan for policy in the area of “freedom, security and justice”, better known as the “Stockholm Programme”. Discussions on this proposal took place […]

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December 2, 2009

Legal Complaints and Petition Against Second French "Horror Database"

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Rechtliche Klagen und Petition gegen zweite französische „Horror-Datenbank“| http://www.unwatched.org/node/1611] The French coalition of groups, associations, trade unions and political parties from the opposition is making it clear after its first successful ‘No to EDVIGE’ in 2008 led to the withdrawal of the EDVIGE intelligence database by the French […]

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November 17, 2010

European Commission takes next step towards data protection review

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Europäische Kommission setzt den nächsten Schritt zur Überprüfung der Datenschutzrichtlinie | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2358] The European Commission has published a Communication on “a comprehensive approach to personal data protection in the European Union”, as the final stage in the consultation process leading to a review of the 1995 Data Protection […]

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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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December 16, 2009

European Civil Society Data Protection Award launched by AEDH and EDRi

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [AEDH und EDRi rufen den “European Civil Society Data Protection Award” ins Leben| http://www.unwatched.org/node/1626] AEDH (European Association for the Defence of Human rights) and EDRi (European Digital Rights) is launching the first edition of the European Civil Society Data Protection Award (ECSDPA). The prize aims at rewarding positive […]

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December 16, 2009

EDPS worries about extended powers of agency running EC databases

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Datenschutzbeauftragter sorgt sich um erweiterte Befugnisse der Agentur, die Datenbanken der Kommission betreibt| http://www.unwatched.org/node/1631] Although not opposed to the creation by the European Commission of a security agency that would be in charge of EU visa and asylum databases, EDPS Peter Hustinx issued an opinion on 7 December […]

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December 15, 2010

Privacy Platform Meeting

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Privacy Platform Meeting | http://www.unwatched.org/node/2443] On 1 December 2010, the Privacy Platform held a meeting on the Commission’s recent Communication on updating the Data Protection Directive. Hosted by Sophie in’t Veld MEP, the panel consisted of: Martin Selmayr, Head of Commissioner Reding’s cabinet (who spoke in her absence […]

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January 13, 2010

EDRi position on data protection

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [EDRis Standpunkt zum Datenschutz | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1645] EDRi submitted a response to the consultation on the legal framework for the fundamental right to protection of personal data. The response, which was sent on 23 December, sets out the challenges to the existing data protection framework and offers recommendations to […]

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January 13, 2010

EU considers full body screening in airports

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Die EU denkt über Ganzkörperscanner an Flughäfen nach | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1646] On 7 January 2010, a discussion tool place in Brussels on the necessity of introducing full-body scanners in European airports. Some of the European countries such as Italy, UK and The Netherlands had already announced their intention to […]

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January 13, 2010

An Irish law for a DNA Database

This article is also available in: Deutsch: [Irisches Gesetz für eine DNA-Datenbank | http://www.unwatched.org/node/1649] The Irish Government has announced that it will publish legislation this week to set up a national DNA database. The Bill follows a 2005 Report of the Law Reform Commission on Establishment of a DNA Database but was delayed by the […]

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