CyberLaw Blog

Archive for the ‘surveillance’ Category

Prove data retention law’s usefulness or repeal it, says EU privacy chief: “The Data Retention Directive is the most privacy-invasive piece of legislation ever adopted by the European Union and has never been fully justified, Europe’s top privacy watchdog has said.“

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

IP address-tracing software breached data protection law: “

Swiss court rules on Logistep

The Swiss Federal Court has ruled that software which identified the internet protocol (IP) address of unauthorised music uploaders broke data protection law.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Government begins RIPA review: “The Government will review the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), the law that governs state tapping of phone, email and internet use. The law will be looked at as part of a wider review of counter-terrorism laws.“

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

UK’s secret surveillance regime ‘does not breach human rights’: “

ECHR rules sneaky RIPA peeking perfectly proper

The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a claim that the UK’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) violates the human right to a private life. The UK’s rules and safeguards on covert surveillance are proportionate, said the court.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

UK’s secret surveillance regime does not breach human rights, rules ECHR: “The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a claim that the UK’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) violates the human right to a private life. The UK’s rules and safeguards on covert surveillance are proportionate, said the court.“

(Via OUT-LAW News.)

Big Brother Watch manifesto makes plea for privacy: “

Look at yourselves, insists pressure group

The latest manifesto into the lists (pdf) comes not from a party standing at election, but from a pressure group.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Federal Judge Finds N.S.A. Wiretaps Were Illegal – NYTimes.com

By CHARLIE SAVAGE and JAMES RISEN
Published: March 31, 2010

WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the National Security Agency’s program of surveillance without warrants was illegal, rejecting the Obama administration’s effort to keep shrouded in secrecy one of the most disputed counterterrorism policies of former President George W. Bush.

In a 45-page opinion, Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that the government had violated a 1978 federal statute requiring court approval for domestic surveillance when it intercepted phone calls of Al Haramain, a now-defunct Islamic charity in Oregon, and of two lawyers representing it in 2004. Declaring that the plaintiffs had been ‘subjected to unlawful surveillance,’ the judge said the government was liable to pay them damages.

The ruling delivered a blow to the Bush administration’s claims that its surveillance program, which Mr. Bush secretly authorized shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was lawful. Under the program, the National Security Agency monitored Americans’ international e-mail messages and phone calls without court approval, even though the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, required warrants.

The Justice Department said it was reviewing the decision and had made no decision about whether to appeal. (more…)

Report names 'enemies of the Internet'(CNET)
A report by Reporters Without Borders, which fights for freedom of the press across the world, has cited several nations for their attempts to restrict freedom on the Net. The list of Internet enemies includes what Reporters Without Borders calls ‘the worst violators of freedom of expression on the Net.’ Those nations are Saudi Arabia, Burma, China, North Korea, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. Turkey and Russia are also currently on Reporters Without Borders ‘Under Surveillance’ list. In Russia, the Kremlin has arrested and prosecuted bloggers and censored Web sites that it considers extremist. In Turkey, Web sites that discuss the army, the Kurds and Armenians, and other topics considered taboo are blocked. Further, two democratic countries are on the ‘Under Surveillance’ watch list: Australia, which has been trying to push through an Internet filtering system, and South Korea, which sets up laws that are imposing too many restrictions on Internet users.

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

German court rejects police data snooping store: “

Leaves Euro spooks in limbo

Germany’s High Court has told police and secret services that they must stop storing email and telephone data and delete information already collected.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Home Office spawns new unit to expand internet surveillance: “

One acronym to rule them all

Exclusive The Home Office has created a new unit to oversee a massive increase in surveillance of the internet, The Register has learned, quashing suggestions the plans are on hold until after the election.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)