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US To Get EU Private Citizen Data
An anonymous reader writes "In a case of 'all your data are belong to us,' the US government is close to coming to an agreement with the EU that allows it to get private citizen data on EU citizens to 'look for suspicious activity.' So, now we know what step three is: set up a security agency in the US to resell otherwise unavailable data."
So when is the EU finally going to request fingerprints and private data from US travelers?
fuck you America
signed, Europe
Just what I would have wanted my unelected EMPs to do on my behalf. Thanks guys. Keep up the good work.
Because you can - or because you should?
The EU is so good at selling us out they even take paypal.
The right standard for decisions about handing private data over to the US should be; will the President and the members of congress submit to having the same data about them printed in European papers?
Beep beep.
We don't want to put anything on their shoulders.
We do want to remove something though.
I think it's time we start publishing data on our politicians and the heads of corporations that deal with the government and see how they like it.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
I really don't have a problem with a country messing with its citizens and even its geographical neighbors -- I think that's well within every countries right even if I don't like the specifics of what they are up to (China for eg.). However, this apparent effort my the American government to rule increasingly larger parts of the words his really disheartening. How about they stick to spying on their own citizens, that's much more fair (since it is a democratic nation)
"Thanks for all the money you paid to us. We've used it to buy off ISO among other things" -Microsoft
A quote from the MEP that was responsible for the proposal:
I may have to flee to China to keep some of my individual rights. Lovely.
>> So, now we know what step three is: setup a security agency in US to resell otherwise unavailable data.
No, step three is that they setup a security agency in Europe so they kidnap these suspicious looking people and put them on flights to Syria (or wherever) for torture.
We should go out of our way (from an EU perspective) to make the EU just as attractive to travelers from the US as the US is to travelers from the EU.
While I really understand the feeling, I totally disagree with it, as it is the wrong thing to do. Fingerprinting and photographing people at the border is wrong. It should not be done. It doesn't stop terrorists, it may make it a bit less convenient for them to do their thing, but that inconvenience is limited to the crossing of borders. When a would-be terrorist has crossed the border, it's kinda too late already. Fingerprinting is no deterrent after the border has been crossed. It's just stupid to believe otherwise.
There are great systems in place to keep unwanted persons out of the country: normal police work, and exchange of information on criminals between governments. Osama bin Laden would not have much of a chance to enter the USA, unless he manages to get a very well done fake passport.
The EU gives a great example on how it can be done. Traveling within the EU, crossing state borders, is often so easy you don't notice it. If you miss the sign next to the road, that is. There is often not more than that to crossing a national border. And for foreigners entering the EU as visitor, that is generally also easy.
But does that make the EU borders more transparent than US borders? I truly doubt it. People from some nationalities have to apply for visa before entering - that of course includes a more thorough screening. And then of course there exists a black-list of unwanted individuals, those people trying to cross the border will likely be arrested and/or sent back.
And all this does not make the EU more susceptible to terrorism by foreigners - on the contrary. Most if not all serious attacks in the EU were all done by nationals or residents, the greatest threat comes from the inside as always.
"I've been critical of the US on Internet forums; is this going to give me hassle getting in when I visit next month?"
.. If he didn't say it, he thought it .. :)
Yes, and you'll be less likely to criticize the government the next time, which I suspect is the chief purpose of such legislation. You see, without the ever present specter of communism to protect up from, the US needed something else to scare us with. Step forward Al-Qaeda and the IslamoFascist bogyman.
"A watched population is a compliant one", Adam Suttler
davecb5620@gmail.com
Re-elected? They don't even have to be elected. It's one of the most disgraceful and anti-democratic constructs in the EU.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
I understand why you feel the way you do, but I disagree. The Us vs. Them is not Europeans vs. US citizens, it is both sets of citizens against both sets of authorities. Two natural allies (the citizens of both countries) selling each other out to their respective governments is a sad thing. Best thing to do is keep the US as the extremist in as many areas such as this as possible. Don't give them the benefit of justifying it further.
Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
While your right in that Fingerprinting people when they enter a country doesn't necessarily stop terrorism, it does go a long way to finding those responsible and possible stopping future acts.
If we had records and proof of all the countries the 9/11 hijackers visited and were able to discern who they traveled with before the events on 9/11, it would have lead a clear trail to other conspirators and perhaps information pertaining to future planned events. I know it is a bit like treating people guilty until proven innocent but that is being done without an accusation of wrong doing so there isn't an immediate harm to a person. Something as basic as knowing who is entering and leaving a country is a right of sovereignty which might actually surpass any or most rights to privacy. That is at least how the supreme court reconciles the searches at the border with the 4th and other constitutional amendments. OF course the constitution would be useless if we didn't have sovereignty, it restricts our government, not others.
Politicians == terrorists.
I don't fear my Islamic neighbour, but I do fear what the government is doing to me.
home
Lol.. "I don't agree" != "troll". Let me translate that, Not agreeing with something doesn't make it a troll.
If you disagree with the premise, then state it. Labeling it troll only causes me to respond like this which will have others view the the comment for perspective. Then on meta moderation, the troll mod will likely be removed which means you done no damage. Use your brain people, Words are far more powerful then arbitrary moderations.
Why do you have the idea that someone fought for someone else's freedom? America only joined in the fight against Hitler after Hitler declared war on America and was attacking shipping along the east coast of America. America was not helping out, it had left it too late for that. If they had helped out when help was needed the Russians would not have claimed so much of Europe. As it was Russia was the one that provided most of the help and demanded most of the reward.
Dear little Britain provided more help than America and they were no more threatened. They are closer but in the end the Germans had already lost due to normal stupid military mistakes (overstretched supply lines etc.) and the US came and helped with the clean up. The Russians really kicked arse but we do not like to give them any credit so the yanks claim it all.