World News

Euroviews. The EU should make facial recognition history for the right reasons

Whilst civil rights activists have long called for an outright ban, certain EU lawmakers may see the AI Act as an opportunity to claim that they are doing the (human) right(s) thing — and actually doing the opposite, Ella Jakubowska writes.

16 November 2023

World News

Euroviews. Facial recognition technology should be regulated, but not banned

The European Commission has proven itself to be an effective regulator in the past. A blanket ban on FRT in law enforcement will only benefit the criminals, Tony Porter and Dr Nicole Benjamin Fink write.

7 August 2023

World News

Euroviews. Will Europe’s AI legislation protect people’s rights?

As the EU’s AI Act moves into the final phase of negotiations, key battles arise for the protection of human rights. The rules on the police’s use of AI technology for surveillance are the heart of the issue, Sarah Chander writes.

12 July 2023

Europe News

MEPs endorse blanket ban on live facial recognition in public spaces

Members of the European Parliament endorsed on Wednesday a blanket ban on AI-powered facial recognition in public spaces.

14 June 2023

Nature

'Russian spy' whale spotted off the Swedish coast

Scientists are monitoring the whale, which has now been reported off Lysekill, north of Goteborg, Sweden.

30 May 2023

Greece

Greek PM admits phone tapping was wrong

He admitted there was no sufficient explanation for the surveillance of an opposition leader, with national elections nearing.

11 May 2023

World News

Euroviews. Retrospective facial recognition tech conceals human rights abuses

With the AI Act, the EU has a unique opportunity to end rampant abuse facilitated by mass surveillance technologies, Ella Jakubowska, Hajira Maryam and Matt Mahmoudi write.

14 April 2023

Iran

China turbocharging crackdown on Iranian women, say experts

Chinese technology and support are contributing to women's treatment as "second-class citizens" and "propping up" the regime, according to analysts.

14 April 2023

No Comment

Watch: Nashville polices release video of armed suspect in school

A former student shot through the doors of a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee and killed three children and three adults after elaborately planning the massacre by drawing out a detailed map and conducting surveillance of the building, police said.

28 March 2023

World News

Euroviews. The EU's home affairs chief wants to read your private messages

A new EU regulation could undermine the trust we have in secure and confidential processes like sending work emails, communicating with our doctors, and even governments, Ella Jakubowska writes.

28 March 2023

Mobility

What to know about the mysterious flying objects spotted in US skies

Spy balloons, drones or aliens? There are certainly more and more unidentified flying objects (UFOs) being spotted in the sky these days.

16 February 2023

Tech News

Smile, AI is watching you: Paris slammed for video surveillance bill

France is currently debating a bill that would allow AI-assisted video surveillance to detect "abnormal" movements ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024

6 February 2023

Czech Republic

China closes two 'secret police stations' in Czech capital Prague

Beijing has been accused of setting up more than 50 illegal centres in Europe to harass dissidents.

8 December 2022

Netherlands

'Chinese police stations' ordered to close in the Netherlands

According to media reports, Beijing has been operating "posts" in Amsterdam and Rotterdam since 2018 to monitor dissidents.

2 November 2022

Europe News

EU watchdog probes Frontex, EEAS surveillance support to non-EU states

The EU Ombudsman launched investigations over concerns the two agencies might not have carried out necessary human rights risk and impact assessments before supporting third countries in the development of surveillance capabilities.

10 October 2022

Europe News

Watchdog files complaints over UK's GPS-tracking of migrants

Privacy International has filed two complaints with UK regulators claiming that the GPS ankle bracelets used to tag asylum seekers are inhumane and a danger to privacy rights.

26 August 2022

Europe News

Greek PM 'did not know' about opposition politician wiretap

Mitsotakis said the wiretap of Nikos Androulakis was wrong.

9 August 2022

Europe News

Brussels dismisses privacy concerns over online child sexual abuse law

The Commission's proposal would require social media platforms and online communications providers to scan all content, even encrypted content, for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

8 August 2022

Tech News

Spanish PM and defence minister's phones hit by Pegasus spyware attack

Pegasus software used to spy on activists, politicians and heads of state was behind the theft of over 11 gigabytes of data, the Spanish government said on Monday.

2 May 2022

Spain

Former king Juan Carlos I could face trial for harassing former lover

The former monarch did not hold royal immunity from prosecution, judges said.

24 March 2022