Even if evil government doesn't exists anymore in Europe, it should be considered that the evil government time is not too far in the past and in the culture.
For exemple, extreme right have around 20% of the votes in france.
For exemple, the have been strong police intervention against political groups in italy in the last five years, and no less than 20 years ago Amnesty International investigated the use of torture in Italian prisons.
For exemple, in some countries that are candidate to be members of the EU there have been wars in the last few years, and a political situation that is not completely cleaned up, with riots defending (supposed) war criminals. This without talking about Turkey.
In general, political confrontation is a lot stronger in Europe, with wider differencies between mainstream left and right parties, and the presence of more radical (but perfectly legal) right and left wing parties.
There is a long history of private data used for political reasons, like the big french scandals of the
phone tapping of the Mitterand era; by the way, it mat be interesting to know a little more about that scandals: Mitterand (the French president at the time, in the 80s), set up an special anti-terrorism group, with special powers. This group used these powers for the political goal of the governing party, and personal goals of the president, doing illegal phone tapping and other things. This in a fully democratic European state.
This directive is criminal and ignore reality in Europe.
Barbogio
Slashdot Mirror
Even if evil government doesn't exists anymore in Europe, it should be considered that the evil government time is not too far in the past and in the culture. For exemple, extreme right have around 20% of the votes in france. For exemple, the have been strong police intervention against political groups in italy in the last five years, and no less than 20 years ago Amnesty International investigated the use of torture in Italian prisons. For exemple, in some countries that are candidate to be members of the EU there have been wars in the last few years, and a political situation that is not completely cleaned up, with riots defending (supposed) war criminals. This without talking about Turkey. In general, political confrontation is a lot stronger in Europe, with wider differencies between mainstream left and right parties, and the presence of more radical (but perfectly legal) right and left wing parties. There is a long history of private data used for political reasons, like the big french scandals of the phone tapping of the Mitterand era; by the way, it mat be interesting to know a little more about that scandals: Mitterand (the French president at the time, in the 80s), set up an special anti-terrorism group, with special powers. This group used these powers for the political goal of the governing party, and personal goals of the president, doing illegal phone tapping and other things. This in a fully democratic European state. This directive is criminal and ignore reality in Europe. Barbogio