The Shape of Things to Come by Tony Bunyan
[statewatch] The EU is currently developing a new five year
strategy for justice and home affairs and
security policy for 2009-2014. The proposals set
out by the shadowy "Future Group" set up by the
Council of the European Union include a range of
highly controversial measures including new
technologies of surveillance, enhanced
cooperation with the United States and harnessing
the "digital tsunami". In the words of the EU Council presidency:
"Every object the individual uses, every
transaction they make and almost everywhere they
go will create a detailed digital record. This
will generate a wealth of information for public
security organisations, and create huge
opportunities for more effective and productive public security efforts."
Seven years on from 11 September 2001 and the
launch of the "war on terorism" this major new
report The Shape of Things to come (60 pages)
examines the proposals of the Future Group and
their effect on civil liberties. It shows how
European governments and EU policy-makers are
pursuing unfettered powers to access and gather
masses of personal data on the everyday life of
everyone – on the grounds that we can all be safe
and secure from perceived “threats”.
The Statewatch report calls for a “meaningful and
wide-ranging debate” before it is “too late” for privacy and civil liberties.
Press release:
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2008/sep/the-shape-of-things-to-come-prel.pdf
Eight page
Conclusions:
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2008/sep/the-shape-of-things-to-come-conclusions.pdf
Copy of full report (pdf):
http://www.statewatch.org/analyses/the-shape-of-things-to-come.pdf
For further information:
00 44 208 802 1882
e-mail: office@statewatch.org
Source: email
