“…the fastest way to share little moments with our friends – to let them know where we are or how we feel right now.” Snapchat The irony may be lost on many but it is nevertheless quite staggering to think that the girlfriend of the man who became a fugitive from US justice for revealing …
Author: K J G
Secrets are Lies v The Right to be Forgotten
“Don’t be evil”, Google slogan "Evil is what Sergey (Brin) says is evil." Google CEO Eric Schmidt quoted in Wired. Secrets come in all shapes and sizes. Some are well intentioned, others not. Some relate to state security; others to highly sensitive commercial secrets. Some are personal, petty and irrelevant. Some mean the difference between …
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Privacy is theft v A right to a private life
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, Alan Friedman It’s free and we always will be, FB front-page In the final part of The EU v Palo Alto we come to the crux of the current tussle between Little Brother and Europe. As far as Palo Alto is concerned privacy is a proprietary right …
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Pioneer 1507: Is it a sci-fi toy? Is it a Star Wars sub-plot? Or is it food?
Last week a majority of EU member states voted against an extension of GMO food in the EU but it is the Commission that will make the final decision. Which way will the Commission swing? EU Perspectives investigates. The decision to approve Pioneer 1507 rests no longer with the Member States or the Parliament. It …
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An open debate on privacy: EU Perspective’s response to President Obama’s challenge
Following the PRISM revelations at the beginning of June, President Obama has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged us all to an open debate on the seemingly inherent conflict between state security and privacy rights. With on-line data protection in the throes of the EU legislative process, now would indeed appear to be a good …
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Issue 2: “Big Brother”- state security and privacy
Should security trump privacy rights? That is the key question that frames this aspect of the privacy debate. Many argue yes. The only way in which a democratic State can outwit those intent on destroying our value system is for each and everyone of us to accept that the State, in pursuit of terrorists, should …
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Issue 1: “Little Brother” and the commercialisation of data
Data has been described by some analysts as the new oil, capable of offering investors a lucrative, profitable return on their investment. Is this true? Can data really be worth as much as crude? Traditional advertising has always been a profitable exercise but when has it ever been compared to black gold? Never. Targeted advertising …
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Issue 3: “Five-eyed Snoopy” – State on State intelligence gathering and confidential trade secrets.
In this third issue on privacy we are entering into the world of spying - which is quite distinct to the issues on privacy discussed in earlier posts. Given that the EU has no “Homeland Security” or MI5/MI6 types milling outside the Berlaymont building what is the EU perspective on spying? The EU, after all, …
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