-----Original Message-----
From: statewatch [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 27 May 2002 19:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Statewatch News online, 28 May 2002
Statewatch News Online, 28 May 2002
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/index.html>
Contents
1. European Parliament to cave in on data retention?
2. Coalition asks European Parliament to vote against data retention
3. EU surveillance of communications: UK European Scrutiny Committee
4 EP Committee Chair attempts deal on data retention
5. EU wants ID system for users of prepaid telephone cards
6. News in brief
[All articles include background and full-text documentation]
1. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO CAVE IN ON DATA RETENTION?
The PSE/socialist group have joined the EPP/conservative group and accepted
the demands of EU governments and law enforcement agencies to place
communications under surveillance.
Tony Bunyan, Statewatch editor, comments:
"The EU governments already have all the powers they need under the
existing Directive to combat terrorism, this measure has nothing to do with
terrorism. The proposal by the EU governments is a cynical exploitation of
public sentiment to introduce draconian powers to potentially place the
whole population of Europe under surveillance.
It took years to agree and put in place the 1997 EU Directive on privacy in
telecommunications in every member state. The right to privacy and freedom
from surveillance once lost will be gone forever.
The European Parliament took a principled stand in November 2001 and on 18
April. Now it appears that the two largest parties - the EPP and PSE - may
simply turn tail and accept the governments' demands. It is the job of the
parliament to defend to the hilt citizens' freedoms and rights , it is to
be hoped that each MEP will look to their conscience before they vote."
See: <http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/may/10epcavein.htm>
2. CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION ASKS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO VOTE AGAINST DATA
RETENTION
Forty civil society groups have written to MEPs asking them to vote against
data retention on Thursday 30 May. Over ten thousands people have signed up
online to oppose data retention, See:
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/may/09coalition.htm>
3. EU surveillance of communications: LETTER FROM UK MINISTER to the UK
European Scrutiny Committee a letter from the Minister, See:
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/may/13datauk.htm>
4. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR TRIES TO REACH A "DEAL" WITH THE
COUNCIL ON THE SURVEILLANCE OF COMMUNICATIONS
There were extraordinary moves last week involving the Council of the
European Union (the 15 EU governments) and the chair of the Committee on
Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Ana Palacio (EPP, conservative group, Spain)
to reach a "deal" over the retention of telecommunications data for law
enforcement agencies use - a "deal" which would have seen the European
Parliament adopting as a negotiating position acceptable to the Council.
See: <http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/may/08survep.htm>
5. EU WANTS IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR USERS OF PREPAID TELEPHONE CARDS
(Jelle van Buuren, 19.05.2002)
The EU Member States must try to adopt a EU-wide common mechanism for
identifying users of prepaid telephone cards. According to Spain, the
current Presidency of the Union, such a system is necessary for combating
organised crime. Spain tabled the proposal at a meeting in the beginning
of this year of the Working Party on Drug Trafficking, falling under the
European Council of Justice and Home Affairs. According to Spain, 'one of
the technological breakthroughs most widely used by criminal organisations'
is anonymous prepaid telephone cards. See:
<http://www.heise.de/tp/english/inhalt/te/12574/1.html>
6. Swedish TextTV 27/5 2002: Great Britain rules EU list of terrorist
groups, See:
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/may/12terrlist.htm>
7. UK arrests and detentions under terrorism laws, See:
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/may/11ukterfigs.htm>
NEWS IN BRIEF <http://www.statewatch.org/news/Newsinbrief.htm>
* EU: European Commission Communication to the Convention on the future of
the EU
* UK: Final draft of code of practice on interception under the Regulation
of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)
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