Hermes Center
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The two sides of web scraping: When data collection becomes a double-edged sword
Emerging AI technology often relies on methods of data collection – such as web-scraping – which can become a double edged sword when not used with safeguards and transparency or in ways that are unlawful. These methods have been used to achieve several key victories for digital rights, but can also be exploitative.
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Italian DPA fines Clearview AI for illegally monitoring and processing biometric data of Italian citizens
On 9 March 2022, the Italian Data Protection Authority fined the US-based facial recognition company Clearview AI EUR 20 million after finding that the company monitored and processed biometric data of individuals on Italian territory without a legal basis. The fine is the highest expected according to the General Data Protection Regulation, and it was motivated by a complaint sent by the Hermes Centre in May 2021 in a joint action with EDRi members Privacy International, noyb, and Homo Digitalis—in addition to complaints sent by some individuals and to a series of investigations launched in the wake of the 2020 revelations of Clearview AI business practices.
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No place for emotion recognition technologies in Italian museums
An Italian museum trials emotion recognition systems, despite the practice being heavily criticised by data protection authorities, scholars and civil society. The ShareArt system collects, among others, age, gender and emotions of people. EDRi member Hermes Center called the DPA for an investigation.
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Initial wins in Italy just two months after the launch of Reclaim Your Face
Last week, the #ReclaimYourFace campaign reached two important milestones at the national level. On Friday April 16th the Italian Data Protection Authority (DPA) rejected the SARI Real Time facial recognition system acquired by the police saying that the system lacks a legal basis and, as designed, it would implement a form of mass surveillance.
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Chilling use of face recognition at Italian borders shows why we must ban biometric mass surveillance
As part of Reclaim Your Face's investigation in rights-violating deployments of biometric mass surveillance, EDRi member Hermes Center explains how the Italian Police are deploying dehumanising biometric systems against people at Italy’s border.
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Campaign “Reclaim Your Face” calls for a Ban on Biometric Mass Surveillance
Civil society across Europe launches the “Reclaim Your Face” campaign, demanding that local and national authorities listen to their communities about the serious risks of using facial recognition and other biometric technologies in public spaces. The newly formed coalition calls to ban biometric mass surveillance, in reaction to the rapid and secretive roll out of invasive and unlawful technologies by police forces and local authorities in many European countries.
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Big Brother Awards 2018 Italy
The 2018 Italian edition of the Big Brother Awards was held in Bologna on 8 June 2018, with the support of a grant from the European Digital Rights Fund. The award ceremony took place during the 23rd edition of the E-privacy conference.
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Member in the Spotlight: Hermes Center
Hermes Center for Transparency and Digital Human Rights is an Italian civil rights organisation focusing on the promotion and development of the awareness and attention to transparency, accountability, freedom of speech online and, more in general, the protection of rights and personal freedom in a connected world.
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Welcoming new EDRi members: FSFE, Hermes Center, NOYB, and Xnet
We are proud to announce that the EDRi network has grown again, and we would like to warmly welcome the four new members: Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), Hermes Center for Transparency and Digital Human Rights, NOYB, and Xnet. European Digital Rights has now 39 members in 19 countries.
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Hermes Center demands investigation of NAT-related data retention
On 27 March 2018, EDRi member Hermes Center for Transparency and Digital Human Rights filed a request with the Italian Data Protection Authority (DPA) to investigate on the widespread practice of logging Network Address Translations (NAT) by most of the telecommunication operators.
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