EU's zombie data-grab plan climbs out of coffin The European Parliament is divided over new efforts to revive a plan to slurp citizens' travel info. The Passenger Name Records (PNR) system was thought dead after the parliament rejected it in 2013, but following the Charlie Hebdo attack national governments have again insisted that the only way to prevent such tragedies is …
"Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld told El Reg that "this is emphatically NOT a new proposal," saying, "I really see no reason to basically restart the whole process on exactly the same basis. A bit like saying to Parliament, 'You voted, but you got it wrong. Just keep voting until we get the outcome we want'.""
This is exactly how lobbies get their legislation through in any country but most especially in Europe when they think no-one is watching.
Typical police-state behaviour to use a terrorist attack as an excuse to grab more data and powers that would have done absolutely nothing to prevent the attack in question.
To be fair, I do see that Passenger Name Recognition CAN have a limited scope of application. However it needs to be done properly:
- Passenger data stays with the airlines. They have it anyway, they're keeping it for at least a few weeks anyway. Police can't get access to any data, they can only submit a name.
- Police can only do a search for specific names, in conjunction with a select few departure and/or arrival points, and narrowly specified time windows. No fishing expeditions.
- Cut the 'serious crime' / 'terrorism' terminology which is crap and overly broad. Pretty much anything can be twisted to mean terrorism and/or serious crime. The baseline should be murder or attempted/planned murder. 'Real' terrorism will automatically be included. Anything less than that is not a serious enough crime to justify new powers and can be tackled the way it currently already is
- Judge's warrant is anyway necessary to be included with the request
So where did the attackers fly in from? From their banlieu, of course. Right, let's log and arrest everyone who flies into central Paris from its suburbs.
Paris, obviously. Probably enjoys Oysters and their discount to deter you from buying Underground tickets anonymously.
When the hammers available to do a job are ignored or not used properly, there is no point in going and buying bigger sledgehammers -- what's needed is to use the stuff already in the toolbox.
Or at least open the toolbox and have a look before buggering off to B&Q for more shiny-shiny
"The Passenger Name Records (PNR) system was thought dead after the parliament rejected it in 2013, but following the Charlie Hebdo attack national governments have again insisted that the only way to prevent such tragedies is to get even more access to personal data."
Last time I checked the Charlie Hebdo victims were not inside an Airbus.
More excuses for less privacy. If governments keep this up they are going to start seeing fierce resistance.
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