US-EU privacy negotiations could weaken European rights

14 Jun 11 | Uncategorized

The US and European Union are right now negotiating an agreement on how to share the personal data of citizens for use in national security and law enforcement investigations, a process many privacy advocates fear will lead to a weakening of protections in Europe. Nearly a dozen civil liberties groups in the US have written to President Obama and congressional leaders urging American negotiators to support a framework that would strengthen US privacy rules rather than degrade the relatively stronger safeguards that exist in the EU. (more…)

Uzbekistan: Libel trial raises questions over EU conduct

13 Jun 11 | Index Index, minipost

Recent developments in a libel trial involving Uzebkistan’s first family have raised concerns about the EU’s involvement with the Karimov family. The claim was brought by President Karimov’s daughter, Lola, against French website Rue89 after one reporter branded her father a “dictator”. Documents produced in court last week, which were originally intended to establish the credibility of the family, have raised questions about why the EU was communicating with Lola Karimov-Tillyaeva about the allocation of $3.7m worth of charitable funding.