[Chapter-delegates] European Parliament: Security yes, but fundamental user rights too

[Marcin Cieslak]

In a recently published European Parliament recommendation of 26 March 
2009 to the Council on strengthening security and fundamental freedoms 
on the Internet (2008/2160(INI))

Among others:

"transparency, respect for privacy and an environment of trust amongst 
I-stakeholders should be considered indispensable elements in order to 
build a sustainable security vision for the Internet,"

"on the Internet, freedom of expression and privacy can at the same time 
be both better enhanced and more exposed to intrusions and limitations 
by both private and public actors,"

"these crimes must be countered effectively and decisively, without 
altering the fundamental free and open nature of the Internet,"

"in a democratic society, it is the citizens who are entitled to observe 
and to judge daily the actions and beliefs of their governments and of 
private companies that provide them with services; whereas 
technologically advanced surveillance techniques, sometimes coupled with 
the absence of adequate legal safeguards regarding the limits of their 
application, increasingly threaten this principle,"

Accepted with 481 votes in favour, 25 against and 21 abstentions.
The recommendation text: http://42.pl/u/1AvQ

Press release: http://42.pl/u/1AvR

I think this is a very important resolution, sadly without direct legal 
value. It's the first time the European Parliament has addressed the 
cybersecurity issues.

-- 
               << Marcin Cieslak // saper at saper.info >>