Archive
EU: Law enforcement data access demands could encompass any connected device
Law enforcement officials are meeting today and tomorrow in Logroño, Spain, to discuss "access to electronic communications and digital data as a premise for law enforcement." The Spanish Council Presidency published a discussion paper prior to the meeting, but a document obtained by Statewatch offers far more information on current plans. Read More
How the Five Eyes countries share immigration data
The 'Five Eyes' countries - Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA - are perhaps best known for their role in global spying and surveillance for the purposes of "national security". However, this is not the only way in which they cooperate. A report for Radio New Zealand looks at how and why they share immigration data. Read More
Drones for border control: a symptom of the security mindset, says new report
The increasing use of drones for border control purposes "is a symptom of viewing borders predominantly in terms of ‘security’ and perceiving people crossing borders as a security threat," says a new report from Drone Wars UK. In this security paradigm, "border control operations are heavily influenced by the military and driven by ‘national security’ considerations rather than human needs," warn the authors. Read More
‘Five Country Ministerial’ – official “communiqué” short on substance
At the end of June, the UK Home Office quietly published a "communiqué" announcing the results of a 'Five Country Ministerial' meeting, in which officials from the 'Five Eyes' countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA) get together to discuss matters of common interest. On the agenda: law enforcement and security threats stemming from the coronavirus pandemic and encryption. Read More
UK: Migration committee rejects full points-based system for UK
The government's proposal for "an Australian points-based system" for immigration has received a lukewarm reception from the Migration Advisory Committee. Read More
Delivering Refugees and Migrants to a ‘Place of Safety’ Following Rescue by States at Sea
"Irregular migration by sea leads states such as Italy and Australia to conduct maritime rescue operations involving refugees and other migrants. During these operations, states must deal with the question of where to disembark survivors." Read More
FIVE EYES: US, allies seek access to Facebook encrypted messaging apps
"US, UK and Australian officials want Facebook to give authorities a way to read encrypted messages sent by ordinary users. Law enforcement has long sought access despite pushback from tech giants and privacy advocates. Read More
Calls for backdoor access to WhatsApp as Five Eyes nations meet
Countries focus on increasingly effective encryption of communications Read More
Five Eyes in the Library of Babel
"The Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing arrangement between the US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, owes its foundations to World War II. Significantly, cooperation started by sharing intelligence on foreign communications—through interception, collection and analysis, and associated cryptographic tools." Read More