November
Networks of (in)security: how global counter-terrorism and security norms threaten civic space and human rights
Global counter-terrorism and security norms are propelling the introduction of pre-emptive, automated and algorithmic forms of surveillance and profiling, says new research published today by Statewatch. This is reinforcing racism and discrimination, inhibiting free movement, and giving authoritarian states new tools of control. The research calls for an organised response to this long-term state project, and sets out some guiding questions for future work.
UK: Inquiry needed over lack of enforcement against "egregious and repeated data breaches"
More than 70 civil society organisations, academics and data protection experts, including Statewatch, have called for an inquiry into the collapse in enforcement activity by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The call comes after the ICO failed to launch an investigation after the Ministry of Defence published a spreadsheet containing the details of over 19,000 people fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Document: Drones - internal security implications
A document circulated by the Danish presidency of the Council of the EU on 11 November sets out internal security issues raised by the use of drones, and outlines measures being put in place by the EU to try to address the problem. The aim is to prepare a discussion due to take place at the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in December.
US searching for “security threats” in European data: not a problem for EU member states
US law enforcement authorities want direct access to EU member state police and immigration databases to identify people considered “a threat to US security.” They may also be seeking access to EU databases. Some member states have concerns over timing, the legal basis and data protection requirements, according to a document obtained by Statewatch – but none have any fundamental problems with the proposal.
European Parliament: Development committee report pushes to use aid as migration leverage
The European Parliament’s Committee on Development (DEVE) is set to debate a report today that supports using development aid to encourage migration control cooperation by non-EU states.
Border externalisation: new documents show EU states want to further ease deportations
The latest issue of our bulletin on EU border externalisation policies includes: second revision of the deportation Regulation proposal; the EU parliament's development committee urged to tie aid to deportation cooperation; and the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU hailing Turkey-EU migration cooperation as a "success".
UK: Politicians must "stop using our human rights as a scapegoat"
Almost 300 organisations, including Statewatch, have called on the UK government to defend the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Government ministers and opposition politicians in both the UK and across Europe are demanding changes to, or even withdrawal from, the ECHR, claiming it prevents them from introducing more restrictive immigration policies.
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