Privacy is a fundamental human right, but today this right is widely ignored. We are outraged.
We are outraged, because
we, the citizens, are now kept in hundreds of databases, mostly without our knowledge or consent,
over
1,200 companies specialise in trading our personal data, mostly without our knowledge or consent,
every time we browse the internet over 50 companies now monitor every click, mostly without our knowledge or consent,
we are constantly being categorised and judged by algorithms and then treated according to the "perceived value" we may or may not bring to business without our knowledge and consent, and
lobbying is currently replacing European citizens' voices and manifest concerns.We call on the Members of the European Parliament and the governments of all European Member States to enhance and enforce our privacy rights.
We expect the new European rules on data protection to ensure:
The protection of all personal information including identifiers of hard- and software
Recognition that every European citizen has the right to effectively control his or her personal information
Explicit, strong and informed consent for processing of our personal data
No more coupling of service usage to personal data use (no more 'take-it or leave-it' online)
Transparency of data processing and data sharing practices.
'True' data portability to promote competition and reduce "lock-in" and achieve information self-determination
Strong protection against secretive profiling of citizens, both on- and offline
Effective redress mechanisms and sanctions imposed on companies and government bodies that do not respect the law
The future of Europe needs privacy, and we need you to defend this fundamental right now.
To sign all you have to do is to send an e-mail to
sign@brusselsdeclaration.net before Wednesday 30 January 2013 with your name, country and profession or affiliation if you so wish in the body of the message. Thank you.
Privacy statement
Promotors
Bits of Freedom
Electronic Privacy and Information Center (EPIC), United States
European Digital Rights
Privacy International
fFull blog and signatories================
The declaration is also aimed at countering lobbying by the US government and numerous trade associations and Silicon Valley internet businesses. Recently, for example, a Washington position paperPDF was uncovered that questioned the planned strict enforcement measures against data protection infringements and the requirement for consent. Civil rights and consumer protection organisations are worried that the extensive lobbying taking place will mean that their concerns will end up being ignored.
http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Brussels-declaration-for-stronger-EU-data-protection-reform-1792448.html
