News Archive
Statewatch's "Observatory": In defence of freedom & democracy
new laws & practices affecting civil liberties and rights after 11 September
News prior to March 2004* EU: UK parliamentary committee strongly criticises Commission report on PNR: Report and letter
* EU draft Decision on the "adequacy" of the US "Undertakings" on access to PNR: Full-text and analysis
"Privacy is one of the basic values of human life and personal data is the main gateway enabling entry into it. The citizens of countries that experienced a period of totalitarian regimes have that a hard experience - when privacy was not considered of value and was sacrificed to the interest of the state" (Hana Stepankova, Czech Office for Personal Data Protection, on handing over personal passenger data to the USA, Prague Post, 11.12.03)
* EU leads call for global agreement on the exchange of passenger data (PNR): Report* UK parliament committee criticises EU plan for collection of PNR data: Full-text of report
* EU planning to nod through use of PNR data for use by CAPPS II: Report and documentation
* EU's data protection working party produces damning report on EU-US exchange of passenger data: Report and documentation
* Statewatch special: Full-text of EU-US agreement on the transfer of personal data: EU-US agreement
* Statewatch new Observatory: EU surveillance of passengers (PNR)
* EU PNR scheme: Irish Presidency seeking to push through plan for the surveillance of travel: Report and background
* UK: Anti-terrorist stop & searches target Muslim communities: Report and analysis
* UK: Civil Contingencies Bill: Britain's Patriot Act - revised, and just as dangerous as before: Analysis
- some clauses dropped but overall powers remain a great danger to democracy
- government, not head of state, to declare "state of emergency"
- powers to ban protests and travel unchanged
- powers to control or withdraw e-mails and websites services added* UK agrees to quick and easy extradition to USA and over a hundred other countries: Analysis
- controversial UK-US treaty ratified
- use of Statutory Instrument "an abuse of democracy"- shadow Home Secretary
- UK Extradition Act 2003 given full effect
- UK citizens and non-nationals may now be extradited on the basis of "information" rather than actual "evidence" to 108 countries, from Albania to Zimbabwe
* USA to use EU PNR data for CAPPS II testing despite assurances no agreement covering it: Report* Flights from France cancelled due to "mistaken identity" by US security agencies using PNR: Report
* European Arrest Warrant limps into force: Report and documentation
* UK: Committee of senior parliamentarians calls for Britain's Guantanamo Bay to be scrapped as "a matter of urgency": Story and full-text of their report
* Updated 18.12.03: EU: Commission "compromises" and agrees on handing over passenger data to USA: Report and documents
- EU-USA collusion heralds global imposition of the surveillance of travel- "The EU cannot refuse its ally in the fight against terrorism" (EU Commissioner Bolkestein)
- The EU's Data Protection Article 29 Working Party: "declined to adopt or approve the text, on the grounds that the transfer of PNR to the US are in any case illegal and nothing should be done to blur that fact"
- EU law enforcement agencies want complete exemption from data protection"What is quite unforgivable is that the European Commission thinks that the EU-USA deal - with a state which has no data protection laws and no intention of adopting them - is a better basis for a global standard than the EU's data protection laws which have served as a model for many countries around the world." (Tony Bunyan, Statewatch editor)
* Building the new security regime - the EU-NATO-USA politico-military axis: EU agrees to exchange of classified documents on "crisis operations" including justice and home affairs issues: Report and documentation
* Germany: 11 September trial collapses
* EU driving licences to be renewed every 10 years and new security features added each time: Report* EU plan for wholesale security checking of every traveller: Report
* UK takes lead on surveillance of passengers: "security and immigration risks" to be stopped from boarding: Report* Guantanamo Bay: The legal black hole: Twenty-Seventh F.A. Mann Lecture: 25 November 2003 By Johan Steyn [Lord Steyn is a judicial member of the House of Lords - the UK's supreme court]: Lecture (html) Lecture (pdf version)
* UK: The Civil Contingencies Bill - Britain's "Patriot Act": Parliamentary committee says: "Our democracy and civil liberties could be in danger": Report
*UK: Home Secretary launches ID card scheme: Report and documents* Further evidence from Statewatch on proposed Directive on aircraft passenger data: Statewatch evidence- October 2003
* Evidence on proposed Directive on aircraft passenger data: Evidence to the Select Committee on the European Union, sub-committee "F": Proposed Directive on aircraft passenger data: Statewatch evidence- September 2003
* USA: ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) briefing on: The Matrix: Total Information Awareness Reloaded - data mining moves into the states (link)* EU: Mandatory retention of telecommunications data would be unlawful - Legal opinion says that under the ECHR mandatory data retention is disproportionate, contrary to the rule of law and cannot be said to be necessary in a democratic society: Report and documentation
* UK: Amnesty International says decision on ten people held in Belmarsh Prison "amounts to perversion of justice": Report
* EU: "health cards" and 10 year driving licences pose privacy questions: Report* Statewatch submission to the EU Network on Independent Experts on fundamental rights raises 22 major civil liberties concerns: Statewatch submission
"Left unchecked basic freedoms and democratic standards - freedom of movement, freedom of expression and the right to protest, freedom from surveillance in everyday life, accountability, scrutiny and data protection - will be whittled away one by one threatening the very democracy being defended by the "war on terrorism" "* National Security and Open Government: Striking the right balance - nine essays looking at freedom of information post 11 September: Book and essays
* European Parliament adopts strong resolution on exchange of passenger data (PNR) with USA: EP-PNR (pdf)
* Canadian parliamentary report ridicules ID cards as pointless, costly and dangerous - findings may devastate UK government plans for an ID card: Privacy International press release
* European airlines are handing PNR data over to US Customs - Evidence from Spain: Report & documents
* Casualties in the so-called "war on terrorism": Report
- USA: Pakistani working in USA has visa revoked for no reason
- Canada: Government settles out of court for false accusation of terrorist links
- Spain: Migrants sue over wrongful arrests
- UK: Algerian pilot suing US government
- CIA: UK citizen held for four weeks in Gambia
* Head of Interpol highlights abuses in war on terror: Report* EU tells USA to stop making new requests to airlines for personal passenger data: Report and letter
* European Parliament report opposes giving passenger data to USA without strict data protection safeguards - and says if these are not met by 1 December all data transfers should stop: Report
* Biometrics - EU takes another step down the road to 1984: Report
- biometric documents for visas and resident third country nationals to be introduced by 2005
- biometric passports/documents for EU citizens to follow
- "compulsory" fingerprints and facial images
- data and personal information to be held on national and EU-wide databases
- admission that powers of data protection authorities vary and are "under-resourced"
- no guarantees that data will not be made available to non-EU states (eg: USA)* "Migration, development and the EU security agenda" paper by Ben Hayes & Tony Bunyan: Paper
*UK development NGOs question the new EU security doctrine: Report
* Data protection: International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners adopt series of resolutions calling for global standards: Report and documentation
* European Commission tells USA that demands for access to data on airline passengers breaches EU Data Protection Directive - but hints at a deal that would "fudge" the issue (update 15.9.03): Report and documentation
* USA withdraws right of EU journalists to enter without a visa: Report* "Counter-terrorism", Human Security and Globalisation - from Welfare to Warfare State? Paper by Jude McCulloch: Paper
* "The war on terror and the suppression of dissent" paper by Reece Walters: Paper
* Afghanistan: UNHCR imposing compulsory iris-scans on returning refugees over six years old: Report
* UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: "Article 16 (1) No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence"* Statewatch Special Report no 2: The New UK-US Extradition Treaty - removes or restricts key protections for defendants - signed and adopted without any parliamentary scrutiny: Report and documentation
* UK: Citizenship ceremony - oath of allegiance to "Queen and Country": Report* British Airways eject passenger on flight to London from USA because he was wearing a badge saying "Suspected Terrorist" and his partner was refused too because she was "associated" with him, see story on: "Suspected Terrorist"
* UK parliament Select Committee issues critical report on EU-US agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance: Report* Switzerland's data protection commissioner says the US war on terror is undermining personal privacy: Report
* EU airlines allowing access to all personal details on passengers by US authorities: Report
* EU-USA agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance held up over "written instruments" - US Senate to have full documentation while EU parliaments not even to be consulted: Report
* EU issues updated list of "terrorist organisations and persons": Lists* Germany: Introduction of biometric features worries privacy rights advocates: Report
* UK: Civil Contingencies Bill: Emergency Powers - ancient arbitrary powers preserved: Royal perogative and Privy Council to authorise emergency powers and scope of new law extended to protect the government, the state and financial institutions: Report and documents
* EU Summit: Agreement on "harmonised" biometric identification linked to EU databases: Report
* EU working party on data protection highly critical of proposed deal on US access to passenger data: Report
* EU: JHA Council to authorise signing of EU-USA agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance - European Parliament adopts highly critical report and Amnesty International say extradition agreement flawed: Report
* Readmission agreements and EC external migration law: Statewatch analysis* USA: ACLU Releases Report on Suppression of Dissent in a Post 9/11 America: Press release
* EU: Council capitulates and releases draft EU-US agreements: Report and full documentation
- pressure from civil society and parliaments leads to release of draft agreements
- UK parliament demands six weeks to scrutinise agreements
- drafts confirm that references to the International Criminal Court (ICC) are excluded
- application of EU data protection standards are "precluded"
- FBI and other US agencies to operate in EU in joint investigation teams with full powers of search, surveillance and arrest* Experts on Fundamental Rights highly critical of EU response to 11 September: Updated: 6 May 2003 with the final versions of the report: Commentary Main report (pdf) Thematic report on freedom and security and responses to terrorist threats (pdf)
* EU: Campaign launched against the illegal transfer of European travellers' data to the USA: Report* Exclusive: EU-USA agreements - the drafts on the table: Full report and documentation
- two agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance being negotiated in secret
- extradition to USA to apply to any suspected offences bringing just a one year sentence
- USA successfully opposed any reference to the International Criminal Court or to Special Courts (Military Tribunals)
- "A broad, categorical, or systematic application of data protection principles to refuse cooperation is.. precluded"
- FBI and other US agencies to operate in EU in joint investigation teams with full powers of search, surveillance and arrest
EU-USA and UK-USA: Full report and documentation
UK parliament Committee refuses to scrutinise agreements in secret
UK agrees new treaty with USA on extradition
UK and USA prepare for "simultaneous attacks"
both of above stories filed 9 April 2003* International Federation of Journaists says attacks on journalists in Iraq are "Crimes of War" that must be punished: Report
* The "war on terrorism" - "Not in our name": Speech
* EU: Spain proposes data on all airline passengers to be sent to law enforcement agencies and for extra checks on all foreign nationals entering the EU: Special Report
* European Parliament: Hearing on: Data protection since 11 September 2001 - what strategy for Europe?: Report
* EU delegations' offices bugged in Brussels HQ: Report
* Globalism's imperial war, by A. Sivanandan: Article
* Massive majority in European Parliament against deal with US on access to passenger data: Full report, resolution and amendments and verbatim debate
* UK: Terror policing brings many arrests but few charges - surevy by the Institute of Race Relations: Report
* EU suspends negotiations with USA on judicial agreement: Report
* EU data protection chair calls for US access to passenger details to be postponed: Report
* EU: Majority of governments introducing data retention of communications: Report
* US Customs to have direct access to EU airlines reservations databases: Report* European Commission caves in to US demands for airline and shipping passenger lists: Report
* USA: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) slates proposed Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003: Text and Report
* EU-US: US demands EU airlines and ships provide passengers list - UK first EU government to back US scheme: Report
* EU member states by-pass Commission to give US access to containers at ports:
US Customs Department moved from US Treasury to Homeland Security Department and US Customs agents to be based in EU ports: Report* Netherlands: Petition to end pre-trial detention of three alleged terrorists denied: Report
* Exclusive: EU: All refugee status to be temporary and terminated as soon as possible: Report & analysis
* EU-USA: Proposed exchange of personal data between Europol and USA evades EU data protection rights and protections: Special report
* Latest version of EU Action Plan to combat terrorism, 14 November 2002: 13909/1/02
* USA: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) launches campaign to keep the country "safe and free" from surveillance and snooping: ACLU (link)
* Campaign and petition launched to defend Professor Sison: Report
* The “war on freedom and democracy”: a 5,000 word analysis of the effects on civil liberties and democratic culture in the EU by Statewatch editor,Tony Bunyan: Analysis
* Amnesty International report: "Rights Denied: the UK's response to 11 September 2001: Report
* Secret EU-US agreement being negotiated: Secret agreement on criminal matters, investigative procedures and joint teams being negotiated without the the European or national parliaments being consulted. Statewatch refused access to full-text of document because: “the interest of protecting the Council’s objectives outweighs the interest in “democratic control”": Special Report
Canada: Canadian government "consultation" paper on data retention and access to e-mails etc plus article: "Will Canada's ISPs become spies?": Report
* UK activates "voluntary" scheme to collect personal data on passengers pending further consultation: Report
* EU Presidency issues statement on data retention: - statement does nothing to refute the existence of a draft Framework Decision: Report
* EU surveillance of communications: data retention to be "compulsory" for 12-24 months - draft Framework Decision leaked to Statewatch - revised 21.8.02 with press coverage: Special report* UK court acquits 11 September "scapegoat": Report
* UK: Special Immigration Appeals Commission says anti-terrorist law is unlawful: Report
* Expelling migrants from the EU: Fast-track legislation and sham consultation - new plans being rushed through pose a huge risk of violation of fundamental human rights: Special Statewatch report and analysis
* "Terror, security and the media" by Martin Bright (Observer): describes how unofficial MI5 and MI6 press officers brief journalists: "MI5 then uses the reports of its own briefings as independent corroboration of the need for internment": Report
* Denied EU document reveals issues of public interest: document refused on grounds it concerned the "campaign against terrorism" contains further far-reaching proposals on surveillance, particularly of immigrants, including: "preventive information gathering": Report* Latest version of Action Plan on terrorism ("roadmap"), 17.7.02: 10773/2/02
* EU Presidency proposal on security screening of all immigrants: Statewatch analysis
* USA: ACLU criticises Terrorism Information and Prevention System, or TIPs informant plan: ACLU* International Federation of Journalists Report Confirms Fear for Journalism After September 11: Report
* UK: Government demands that airlines collect personal data on every passenger: UK takes the lead in EU on meeting USA demand that every passenger is security vetted before being allowed to get on a plane thorugh "pre-boarding intervention" to exclude "inadmissibles": Report
* UK: Government wants to introduce compulsory ID cards: Report
* EU Framework Decision on combating terrorism comes into force: Report
* UK government publishes "Extradition Bill": Report
* EU amends lists of terrorist organisations: Report
* Europol document confirms that the EU plans a "common EU law enforcement viewpoint on data retention": Report* EU surveillance of telecommunications: The vote in the European Parliament to accept data retention and surveillance by the law enforcement agencies: Report & Analysis
* European Parliament caves 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: Report
UK arrests and detentions under terrorism laws: Report
* Latest version of EU Action Plan on terrorism: (14.5.02): 8547/02
* European Parliament committee chair tries to reach a "deal" with the Council on the surveillance of communications: Report* "Fortress Europe - Stage 2": EU Border Police proposed: Report
* EU governments are secretly drafting a binding Framework Decision to introduce the universal surveillance of telecommunications: Report* EU adds the PKK to list of terrorist organisations: Report
* The war against terrorism is boosting the European far-Right - special report from the Institute of Race Relations: Report
* USA puts three Swedish citizens on UN terrorist list: Report
* Schengen Information System (SIS II) takes ominous shape: Report
- SIS set to become the EU's "Big Brother" database
- EU security and intelligence agencies to have access to all SIS data
* USA: EPIC FOIA Request Seeks Homeland Security Documents on biometric identity documents: Report
* Speech by Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on counter-terrorism and human rights: Speech
Report from US "Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press": "Homefront Confidential: How the war on terrorism affects access to information and the public's right to know": Report (pdf)
Spain: State agencies put protestors under extensive internet surveillance: Report
Report from US "Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press": "Homefront Confidential: How the war on terrorism affects access to information and the public's right to know": Report (pdf)
EU negotiating secret agreement with US on judicial cooperation in criminal matters: Report
Statewatch critique of European Commission report on asylum and "safeguarding internal security" post 11 September, which: i) displays a flagrant disregard for basic human rights obligations; ii) suggests solutions that are not coherent and iii) would apply to situations wholly unrelated to terrorism: Analysis no 10
Statewatch analysis report covering the US Bush letter to the EU of 16.10.01 with analysis and details of a secret meeting on asylum and border controls: Report no 2 (pdf)
EU: Anarchists to be targeted as "terrorists" alongside Al Qaeda: Report
EU Presidency present draft Council Decision to target protestors as "terrorists": Report
Denmark: Hard times for asylum seekers and refugees: Report
Secret US-EU meeting on asylum: the construction of a common EU-US area of migration, asylum and borders? Report
European Parliament supports EU definition of terrorism and European arrest warrant: Report
EU data protection working party calls for a balanced response to terrorism: Report
UN counter-terrorism reponses: Report
New EU measure on terrorism criminalises all refugees and asylum-seekers: Full report (pdf) Full report (html)
EU plans to extend the Schengen Information System (SIS) to: i) create EU database to target "suspected" protestors and bar them from entering a country where a protest is planned; ii) create EU database of all "foreigners" to remove third country nationals who have not left within the "prescribed time frame": Special Statewatch report: The enemy within II
back to Observatory home page