So, where does the EU stand on politicians, law enforcements and intelligence organisations war on encryption?
It is still an open question, to be decided in the e-Privacy Directive.
What is this — and didn’t the EU just set out the framework for data protection? Diego Naranjo at EDRi explains…
“Did you think the data protection reform was finished? Think again. Once the agreement on the texts of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Directive for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEDP) was reached, the e-Privacy Directive took its place as the next piece of European Union (EU) law that will be reviewed. The e-Privacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC on privacy and electronic communications) contains specific rules on data protection in the area of telecommunication in public electronic networks.”
Here issues such as cookies, government trojans and encryption back doors should be addressed.
So far, this process has attracted very little attention from the public, the media, the industry and internet activists. Nevertheless, these issues are essential when it comes to citizens right to privacy.
While the Apple vs. FBI case in the US is all over the media — what’s going on in the same field in the EU is more or less ignored.
While most EU politicians have held a low profile about encryption backdoors so far, the matter of government trojans already is an existing and very real cause for worry.
The French have since long been suspected to use malware (e.g. Babar, Bunny, Casper, Dino, NBot and Tafacalou) and will most certainly move ahead in its’ new cyber-security strategy. In Germany the government just approved the usage of trojans by federal agencies. And countries like Sweden are fast-tracking legislation in this field.
It is important to remember that this is not “only” about phone calls, text messages and e-mails. With trojans on your phone, tablet or computer — the government can access everything you do. What you write. What you google. Your online banking. Your social media activities. Dating apps that you might use. Your contacts. Your private pictures. Your business plans. Your health apps. You name it…
So we better get busy while it’s still possible to influence the political process.
Don’t let the EU get away with keeping this dossier under the radar. Please.
/ HAX
EDRi: Data Protection Reform – Next stop: e-Privacy Directive »
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