EU directive on privacy and electronic communications
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EU trying to push again biometrics on national ID cards
(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar) According to a EU document presented by Statewatch in July 2006, The Visa Working Party on 13-14 June 2006 proposed another approach on the issue of the biometrics to be introduced on national ID cards. The issue had met resistance back in February when several members of […]
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New Czech Police draft act allows taking DNA samples by force
The Czech Senate, upper chamber of the Parliament, approved on 25 May 2006 the amendment of the Criminal Proceedings Code and Police Act, which empowers police officers to take DNA samples and other identification samples as fingerprints. According to the draft police can take the DNA samples even by using force in case of resistance. […]
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EU Parliament Members want more privacy in SIS II
The Committee of Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs at the European Parliament debated the draft Regulation on the establishment, operation and use of the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II). There was a consensus among members of the committee that better privacy safeguards are needed for the SIS II, especially because it will […]
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Passports with biometrics for Romanians
Starting with 1 January 2007, passports containing electronic chips will be put into circulation for the Romanian citizens. The passports will include a storage system (probably RFID) for personal data, including a facial image and digital fingerprints. The present passports will preserve their validity and they will be replaced at the request of the citizens. […]
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Results data protection inspection EURODAC kept secret
The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has completed a first inspection of the central unit of EURODAC, but the complete results of the report have not been made public, arguing sensitivity of the information. EURODAC is a community-wide information technology system for the comparison of the fingerprints of asylum seekers, which was adopted on 11 […]
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New biometric passports in Slovenia
Slovenia is joining the list of Visa Waiver Program countries whose citizens will be able to acquire new biometric passports before October 2006, as required by the United States. Currently there are 27 countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program, including Slovenia, whose citizens can enter the territory of the United States without Visa. The […]
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French Big Brother Awards 2006
The 6th edition of the French Big Brother Awards taking place in Paris on 3 February has chosen the following in the 5 different award sections, for causing the most damage to personal privacy. The Orwell Award for State official – the winner was Jean-Michel Charpin, Directeur de l’Insee (INES) for his participation in the […]
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EU Visa Database under scrutiny of the European Data Protection
In a public opinion from 20 January 2006, Mr. Peter Hustinx, the European Data Protection Supervisor, was very critical about the wide access possibilities the European Commission wanted to give to the new Visa Information System. The Commission published its “Proposal for a Council Decision concerning access for consultation of the Visa Information System (VIS)” […]
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Comparison between US and European anti-terror policies
In a report titled ” Threatening the Open Society: Comparing Anti-terror Policies and Strategies in the U.S. and Europe” and released on 13 December 2005, Privacy International compared the anti-terrorism approaches in the U.S. with those in Europe. The report finds that on every policy involving mass surveillance of its citizens, the EU is prepared […]
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Big Brother Awards presented in 4 countries
The sixth edition of Swiss Big Brother Awards ceremony was held in Zurich’s Rote Fabrik on 29 October 2005. The Swiss jury received 100 nominations in four categories: government, business, workplace and the special life-time achievement award. The financial services branch of Swiss Post, Postfinance, was awarded the business award for the illegal transfer of […]
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New Dutch database to create lifetime record for every baby
The Dutch ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport plans to introduce a new electronic file on every new-born, starting in January 2007. The file will contain information about the child, the family situation and its surroundings, later adding educational data, information from social workers and possible police records. The file will be principally maintained by […]
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Data Protection Commissioners Conference in Montreux
The 27th international conference of data protection commissioners took place in Montreux/Switzerland from 13 to 15 September 2005. The meeting with the title “The protection of personal data and privacy in a globalised world: A universal right respecting diversities” saw several hundred data protection authorities (DPA) officials, industry, cyberrights groups and other stake-holders for three […]
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