Press Release: Mass surveillance: EU citizens’ rights still in danger, MEPs say

The European Parliament's civil liberties committee approved on 13 October 2015 a resolution in which they defend too little had been done to ensure that citizens' rights were protection following revelations of electronic mass surveillance.

Members of the committee urged the European Commission to come with alternatives to Safe Harbour, following the ruling by the European Court of Justice making it invalid. They were also concerned about the surveillance laws in several member states.

On 15 October, MEPs debated in plenary the ECJ ruling on Safe Harbour with Commissioner Jourova and Mr Schmit from the Luxembourg EU Presidency. MEPs called on the Commission to clarify the legal situation following the ruling and demanded immediate action to ensure effective data protection for EU citizens.

The resolution was approved in plenary by the European Parliament on 29 October. It urged the Commission to ensure that all data transfers to the US were subject to an 'effective level of protection' and asked member states to grant protection to Edward Snowden, as a 'human rights defender'. The chamber also raised concerns about surveillance laws in several EU countries.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Judgment in Case C-362/14 Maximillian Schrems v Data Protection Commissioner http://www.europeansources.info/record/judgment-in-case-c-362-14-maximillian-schrems-v-data-protection-commissioner/

ESO: Background information: US NSA: stop mass surveillance now or face consequences, MEPs say http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-us-nsa-stop-mass-surveillance-now-or-face-consequences-meps-say/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 15.10.15: Safe Harbour ruling: MEPs called for clarity and effective protection http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151015IPR97903/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 15.10.15: Claude Moraes on mass surveillance: A balance is needed between privacy and surveillance http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151015STO97860/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/5916, 26.10.15: Commissioner Jourová's remarks on Safe Harbour EU Court of Justice judgement before the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (Libe) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-5916_en.htm

EUObserver, 26.10.15: [Opinion] Safe Harbour invalidation puts EU data in quarantine https://euobserver.com/opinion/130816

EurActiv, 28.10.15: Tech industry association bashes German privacy watchdogs http://www.euractiv.com/sections/digital/tech-industry-association-bashes-german-privacy-watchdogs-tough-take-data-transfers

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 29.10.15: Mass surveillance: EU citizens' rights still in danger, says Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151022IPR98818/

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