UK Presidency 'report' proposes exporting UK surveillance policies
07/09/2005
The UK Presidency's first formal report on 'Liberty and Security: Striking the Right Balance' was released today. This 'report' argues the case for new and expansive policies on communications surveillance, biometrics, travel surveillance, and CCTV. In fact, it promises to take UK policy failures to the European level.
We have archived the report here.
On communications data retention
Despite having only a voluntary framework in UK law, the UK Presidency of the EU is pursuing mandatory data retention in a framework decision at the Council.
- Government argues for the proposed framework decision calling for the retention of traffic data.
- argues that in terror investgiations in the UK, half of the all data requirements are for data over six months old
- in an effort to reduce industry opposition, the UK claims that retention only cost one mobile phone network 1.2 million euros for 12 months.
- retention will not apply to internet data except for 'logs-on and logs off' though this is not clarified
On biometric identity documents
The UK Presidency proposes biometrics as the natural technological evolution since adding photographs to passports. The UK says that: "To turn our backs on proven biometric technology, to ignore the use made of fingerprints, iris and digital photos by both government and the private sector would be to reject the twenty-first century."
- The UK points to the verification of identity against a centralised database, which would be illegal in some countries in the EU due to privacy concerns
- The UK makes claims about 'robust' technology despite knowing better with other government studies showing significant failure rates;
- Arguing that we must prevent multiple-enrolments, the UK Presidency says that biometrics must be stored in a database
On travel surveillance
After a controversial battle against the U.S.authorities who demanded that EU airlines hand over passenger name records (PNR), the UK is turning around and saying that the EU should do as the U.S. has done. Again the UK has no legal basis for these powers under UK law.
- calls for expansive use of Passenger Name Records across the EU in order to aid law enforcement and immigration control
- the UK Presidency calls for this data to be mined to compare travel patterns with suspect profiles
On CCTV
Despite being a well-known failure in the UK, the UK Presidency is promoting its use across Europe.
- The Government claims that widespread CCTV has little impact on daily lives of citizens.
- Draws on the London bombings and the killing of a two year old boy to promote the policy but never claims that CCTV was integral to either
Related:
Communications Surveillance Home Page
Policy Laundering Home Page
Border and Travel Surveillance Home Page
ID Cards Home Page
Anti-Terrorism Policy Home Page
Data Retention back on EU Agenda
European Parliament rapporteur rejects retention proposal as "disproportionate, invasive and illusory"
UK Home Office releases research on CCTV effectiveness
UK 'national identity register' is a national database of fingerprints
PI appeals to Europe's Privacy Commissioners to oppose retention
PI Report on European Commission and Council Proposals on Data Retention
PI and ACLU Comment on Passenger Profiling (PDF)
Privacy International submits report to European Commission on Data Retention
PI and EDRi urge restraint in extraordinary European Council meet on retention
PI appeals to the European Parliament to stop data retention
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