0029/2010
Written declaration on setting up a European early warning system (EWS) for privacy offenders.
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the Commission communication on the fight against cyber crime (COM(2007)0267),
- pornography and sex offending,
- whereas it is essential to ensure that the internet continues to afford a high level of virtual democracy, which does not present any threat to privacy,
- whereas, however, improper use of the opportunities provided by technology may facilitate abuse of individual privacy and freedom,
- whereas the internet also allows governmental and law enforcement agencies to enjoy freedom of action,
- putting them on the same footing as honest citizens and making it difficult for the authorities to trace them,
- Calls on the Council and the Commission to act on Communication COM(2007)0267
- Asks the Council and the Commission to implement Directive 2006/24/EC and ensure that no tracking is implemented and individual freedoms safeguarded rapidly and effectively;
- Calls on the Member States to coordinate a European early warning system involving their public authorities, based on the existing system for food safety, as a means of tackling abuse of power;
- Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council and the Commission.
I'm quite busy at the moment, but I think this is just too important an issue not to bother typing something about it.
Don't take me wrong, the issues the original declaration tries to tackle are important. Both children and adults shouldn't suffer from violence, sexual or otherwise. The offenders should be punished and stigmatised in a 21st century society.
I just don't believe that censorship and total surveillance is the way. Step by step individual freedoms are pushed to the sidelines by excuses such as fraud, terrorism, sex offenders... Yes, total surveillance can be effective, usually to monitor what the subjects are doing and punish them accordingly. The twentieth century eastern block security apparatus has proven it to be so. Do we want to be back there? Really?
I know I don't. The less powers the police and other government agencies have, the more I would trust them. And the reverse is true as well. I think history has taught us that the more powerful a state, or its representatives are, the more they become an enemy of it's own people.
It is none of your business what I search for. What I read. Whom I email.
