dikini.net

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,

1. 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,
2. whereas, however, improper use of the opportunities provided by technology may facilitate abuse of individual privacy and freedom,
3. whereas the internet also allows governmental and law enforcement agencies to enjoy freedom of action,
4. putting them on the same footing as honest citizens and making it difficult for the authorities to trace them,

1. Calls on the Council and the Commission to act on Communication COM(2007)0267
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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.

The original

On 11 January 11 2002, the first detainees from Afghanistan arrived at the US Naval Base of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Five years on, the baby is live and kicking and enjoys good health. It has been kept on a nutritious diet of injustice and abuse.

Celebrate it's five year on anniversary with all of it's well wishers at the Guantanamo Anniversary Special

I'm gutted to hear that Spiller's Records is under threat to get shut down. It will be a shame if it happens. It will be a loss. Instead of being shut it should be listed. It's the oldest surviving record shop in the world! It's been continuosly open since 1894, yes, that's right it has been alive in three different centuries. Sign the petition. Now! If you don't want such gems to disappear. I quote the petition below.

Making noise.

I'm receiving emails from people I know and people who know me (for some strange reason this is true), who are aware of my posts about Alaa and his imprisonment in Egypt earlier this year.

Well, it seems the authorities there have consistent policies against dissent.

Recently Abdel Karim Sulaiman Amer was arrested and detained [apparently] because of his critical writings on his blog.

Similarly Rami Siyam aka Ayyoub got arrested and detained on November 20.

Let's not forget the imprisonment of Tal’at Sadat, a member of parliament, for “spreading false rumours and insulting the armed forces".

Protect Freedom #1: Eliminate DRM

Stikr aktion at factoryjoe's flickr garage.