End mass snooping and protect whistleblowers, MEPs yell at EU The European Parliament on Tuesday voted to adopt the conclusions of a report – as a non-legally binding resolution – that defends encryption, anonymity and digital freedom. The report (PDF), which was narrowly approved by 371 votes in favour to 293 against, said “the active complicity of certain EU member states in the NSA’s …
The criminals will always have access to encryption, guns, and every thing else they want or need!
But the governments of the world want to take those things away from law abiding citizens in an effort to more fully control us all! They care not that we would be left vulnerable and suffer losses in many ways. And besides, it's not like the spies aren't already exploiting every weakness in hardware/software already,and leaving us exposed. I mean,can you all imagine if and when law enforcement becomes fully automated? Your computer will be judge, jury, and executioner. They will send a robotic cop to arrest you,transport you in a driverless car (paddywagon) and place the pain of death control collar on you that reads your thoughts,in order to facilitate your RE-EDUCATION !! Got the picture? Don't laugh, now.
It's nice to see that someone is still trying to fight on our side. I'm sort of okay with the concept of an overarching European Parliament but it's too expensive, and inefficient. Also as this shows in a lot of cases it's pretty toothless. I wonder sometimes if the real purpose of it is for window dressing :(
Isn't it basically toothless precisely because any attempt to give teeth to the (democratically elected) parliament - as opposed to the political appointees and civil servants - gets scuppered? Not least by British politicians and press who have long been determined not to allow it democratic legitimacy.
I think the problem is the difference between whistle blowers, ie people who point out the security problems and abuse of power, and the release of information that can cause actual harm and cause friction between countries.
I am sure you would want to blow the whistle on your bank for failing to secure your details, but would you want the personal information that was obtained to show such a breach to be freely dispatched over the web ?
“We need to make sure that Europe plays a leading role to prevent advanced systems, which are used to violate human rights, falling into the wrong hands," she said.
This is much less clear cut than usually portrayed. Proper encryption technology,for instance, once was under US export restriction although it was clearly recognized to have benefits as well as potential for such activities as concealing criminal or terrorist activity. Nuclear technology might also be mentioned. Absent specific referents, statements like the above are effectively meaningless.
It all sounds nice and rosy with regards to the dual use stipulation, however how does that help all the dead in Syria and the refugee's flooding into Europe?
When are governments going to get their acts together and sort out places like Syria instead of throwing away money with airstrikes etc. that really do nothing to resolve the situation and cost money for the EU nations that now have to deal with the refugee crisis?
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