Insufficient info undermines EU claims on value of data retention 18 EU states fail to provide full statistics on use of personal data in fighting crime 18 April 2011, Madrid – There are serious risks associated with the massive invasion of personal privacy required by the EU’s 2006 Data Retention Directive whilst there is no strong evidence that is an effective instrument against crime according to the leaked version of an EU report to be lauched officially today.

Council of Europe urged to make use of biometric data more transparent 31 March 2011 – In response to concerns that European governments are collecting increasing amounts of biometric data from members of the public, Access Info Europe has joined an international civil society alliance in calling on the Council of Europe to collect and publish information about the legal framework regulating biometrics.

Access for Rights: Planned Information Request Actions 1 February 2011, Madrid/London: During the project on Access for Rights, Access Info Europe and Statewatch will use Europe’s access to information laws to get comparative data on civil liberties issues. The goal is to generate information that can be used in advocacy to defend democratic rights. The issues that we will be focusing on include: •         Mandatory Data Retention – right to privacy. •         EU- Passenger Name Record – right to privacy / freedom of movement •         New policing techniques – freedom of assembly. •         Biometric Identity Documents – right to privacy

Action: Joint Requests on Data Retention 10 March 2011, Madrid/London: Access Info and Statewatch are inviting civil society across Europe to take part in the first joint information request campaign under the Access for Rights Project.The goal is to present the same request to governments across Europe and then compile the responses for use in human rights advocacy work.