About: surveillance
Eleven member states back EU controls on selling spyware
EXCLUSIVE / Eleven EU countries have signalled their support for draft rules that would place export restrictions on companies selling surveillance technologies, a leaked working paper shows.
Jourova: ‘Never say never’ to EU hate speech law
Tech giants should share the technology they develop to detect hate speech with smaller companies, EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said in an interview.
MEPs approve export controls tailored to stop government surveillance
MEPs approved stricter rules on Wednesday (17 January) to control how European companies export technologies including software that could be used for surveillance, and any products that may violate human rights.
MEPs want human rights safeguard on tech exports
MEPs steering a controversial export control bill through the European Parliament have agreed to apply stricter human rights safeguards for technologies that can be used for online surveillance.
Hungary rights chief denounces ‘data grab’ bill
Hungary's data protection watchdog on Monday (7 August) lashed out at government plans to centralise personal data and ease rules on allowing official access, calling them a major threat to citizens' rights.
A free and independent press is a necessity, not a luxury
In these uncertain times, World Press Freedom Day is a chance for the EU to guarantee publishers and journalists the freedom they need to carry out their jobs, writes Christian Van Thillo.
Snowden lawyers explore EU asylum options
Edward Snowden has asylum in Russia until 2020 but his lawyers have said it's time EU countries “pay back” for exposing the extent of American snooping by giving him legal protection.
EU watchdogs ask Yahoo and WhatsApp to explain privacy breaches
The group of powerful data protection watchdogs from EU countries have reprimanded Yahoo and WhatsApp over concerns the companies are violating Europeans' privacy rights.
Germany’s intelligence service reform stokes controversy
Germany’s ruling coalition is to adopt a new intelligence law today (21 October). Concerns have been raised about the increase in the amount of surveillance that will be permitted by the new legislation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
‘Anti-trade’ MEP put in charge of controversial export control bill
Companies that lobbied to water down new EU rules that will make it harder to export some technology products are worried the MEP in charge of the controversial bill will be “anti-trade” and double down on the European Commission's controversial plans.
EU struggles for balance on free flow of business data
German industries have urged caution when the European Commission presents its free flow of data initiative next month, warning that excessive open data requirements risk exposing trade secrets and chilling investments in the digital economy.
Commission proposes export controls to rein in surveillance technologies, to industry fury
EU companies are about to get hit with a controversial new export control law hampered by a wave of criticism this summer from technology firms, which contend that it will destroy their business abroad.
Juncker postpones controversial export control bill on surveillance technology
Jean-Claude Juncker intervened today (20 September) to postpone a controversial trade bill that would have made it more difficult for EU countries to export surveillance software, marking the second time this month that the Commission chief pulled the brakes on a high-profile technology file.
Tech industry, privacy advocates pressure Commission on export control bill
Technology industry groups are rushing to lobby the European Commission to change a draft bill, before it's proposed in September, that would require export controls on surveillance products.
Commission plans export controls for surveillance technology
EXCLUSIVE / Technology companies may face stricter licensing requirements to export products that could be used to violate human rights, as part of a change to EU rules.
Cazeneuve: Over 100 arrested on terror charges in France this year
France has arrested 101 people since the start of the year over "direct links to terrorism", Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in an interview to be published later today (13 May), exactly six months after the Paris attacks.
EU internet freedom programme endangered by Commission muddle
EXCLUSIVE / The European Commission appears to have shelved a landmark programme that gave out aid money to help human rights workers, protestors and journalists access the internet.
European court’s blow to Hungary could draw similar privacy complaints
The blow dealt to Hungary's surveillance practices this week by the European Court of Human (ECtHR) Rights could usher in a wave of similar rulings from around the EU.
Companies can monitor workers’ private online chats, ECHR rules
Employees in Europe should think carefully about using the Internet to send private messages at work. Europe’s top rights court ruled Tuesday (12 January) that companies could monitor workers’ online communications.
Hungary anti-terror spy law breaches privacy: European rights court
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday (12 January) rapped Hungary over its anti-terror surveillance legislation, saying a 2011 law could be used against "virtually anyone", trampling Hungarians' right to privacy.
UK unveils plan to spy on Internet use, raising privacy fears
Britain unveiled plans on Wednesday (4 November) for sweeping new surveillance powers, including the right to find out which websites people visit, measures which critics denounce as an assault on freedoms.
Europe’s data authorities step into post-Safe Harbour spotlight
Data protection officials are assuming increasing prominence following Tuesday's (6 October) ECJ decision to outlaw Safe Harbour, which called them to take on a bigger role in Europe's privacy debacles.
Parliament calls for stricter controls over surveillance tech exports
The European Parliament gave the green light on Tuesday (8 September) to a non-binding resolution calling for safeguards to ensure technology isn't implicated in human rights abuse, especially when it's exported outside of Europe for surveillance or censorship purposes. A European Commission proposal is expected next year.