surveillance

A person in a black shirt with "POLICE" in white text stands beside a white vehicle. The person has a utility belt with various equipment. The scene seems to be outdoors, possibly during the day, with a blurred background.

February 8, 2022

ICO investigates police use of app to covertly record calls from mobile phones

The watchdog has begun an investigation into the widespread use of a mobile phone app by police forces to covertly record phone calls on their mobile phones.

Silhouetted figures walk or stand in an airport terminal, with large windows showing an empty runway background. One person leans over luggage, while others move forward. The scene is backlit by daylight, creating distinct outlines against the glass.

February 7, 2022

UK can join EU surveillance schemes with no parliamentary scrutiny, warns new report

The UK can join intrusive EU surveillance schemes including a pan-European network of police facial recognition databases with no scrutiny.

A living room features a flat-screen TV displaying a scene of Earth from space. Wooden shelves surround the TV, filled with books, decor, and a game console. A large potted plant sits to the left, and a wooden door with frosted glass is on the right. The floor is tiled in dark brown.

January 31, 2022

What your smart TV knows about you – and how to stop it harvesting data

Smart TVs are always gathering data about you that can be monetised. What can you opt out of – and what can you safely leave alone?

A smartphone displays the text "GDPR" above a padlock surrounded by yellow stars on a blue background, signifying the EU flag. Below, the text reads "EU data protection regime." The phone is centered on a background featuring the EU flag's blue field and yellow stars.

January 27, 2022

Europe’s Hypocrisy Over Personal Data Privacy Exposed

Inherent hypocrisy is fully revealed by Europol’s mass collection of personal data of European residents contrary to the principles of GDPR.

Silhouette of a person standing in front of a large digital screen displaying abstract, glitch-like patterns in blue and green hues. The image has a futuristic, cybernetic ambiance, emphasizing the contrast between the dark figure and the vibrant, dynamic backdrop.

January 19, 2022

Online surveillance thrives when fear takes over

European law-enforcement agencies have been pushing to end encryption and survey everyone’s online communications.

January 17, 2022

Cross-Border Access to User Data by Law Enforcement: 2021 Year in Review

Law enforcement around the world is apparently getting easier access to data in other countries, thanks to the Council of Europe’s adoption of a flawed new protocol to the Budapest Convention.

Two people stand on a sidewalk gazing up at a brown brick wall adorned with numerous surveillance cameras aligned in rows and columns. A tall, narrow window and a black door are between the rows. The cameras face different directions, creating a striking visual pattern.

January 17, 2022

Europe’s surveillance crisis

Law enforcement and security agencies are bristling at orders to limit their data collection practices.

Graffiti of a black surveillance camera labeled "CAT" on a speckled concrete wall. Below, stenciled text reads "FOR YOUR SAFETY & OUR CURIOSITY" in black, with "CURIOSITY" emphasized in red.

January 15, 2022

ECHR: Bulgaria’s surveillance laws breach European human rights convention

Court ruled that Bulgaria violates the European Convention of Human Rights when it comes to secret surveillance and accessing of communication data.

January 11, 2022

Polish leader admits country bought powerful Israeli spyware

The leader of Poland’s ruling conservative party has acknowledged that the country bought advanced spyware from the Israeli surveillance software maker NSO Group.

The image displays the flag of China waving on a flagpole against a clear sky. The flag is red with five yellow stars in the top left corner. One large star is surrounded by four smaller stars in a slight arc to its right.

January 4, 2022

China harvests masses of data on Western targets

Hundreds of projects show that Chinea is gathering data from sites including Twitter and Facebook to track perceived threats.

January 1, 2022

Are Apple AirTags Being Used to Track People and Steal Cars?

Privacy groups sounded alarms about the coin-sized location-tracking devices when they were introduced. Now people are concerned those fears are being realized.