Newly Released Emails Raise Questions Of Whether EU Politicians Sold Out To US On Privacy
from the that's-awkward dept
As we’ve noted, the EU Data Protection Regulation has seen some of the fiercest lobbying in the history of the European Union. That’s because key US Internet companies are worried that stricter controls on taking personal data out of the EU might adversely affect their business models, which are largely based on using that data quite freely.
The human rights organization Access has been following this closely, and has made several freedom of information requests to both the US and EU authorities in an attempt to find out who exactly has been trying to weaken the Regulation and how. A recent Access blog post revealed that as well as many heavily-redacted documents, one interesting email was provided in its entirety:
The email is between staff working at the [National Telecommunications and Information Administration] of the [US] Department of Commerce. The email makes reference to the drafting of one of the lobby documents the Obama administration produced to influence the outcome of the data protection reform package (read EDRi?s analysis on the paper here). This is one of the many documents which likely contributed to a diluting of the Data Protection Regulation even before the proposal had been made public.
The email indicates that Commissioner Malmström and/or her cabinet had been sharing information with the U.S. Mission in the E.U., including appropriate times to publish the lobby document, information about internal politics within the Commission, and concerns about how the proposal for a Data Protection Directive could conflict with E.U. and U.S. Law Enforcement interests.
That’s pretty shocking since, if true, it means that one of the most important departments of the European Commission, headed by the senior politician Cecilia Malmström, was actively working to weaken the proposed Regulation. According to Access:
For many who have been following the E.U. privacy reform debate closely, this trans-Atlantic cooperation was an open secret. However, until now, it has not been possible to demonstrate DG [Directorate-General] Home’s maneuvers. Beyond the implications for the Data Protection Reform, the contents of the acquired document give cause for concern about Ms. Malmström?s suitability for leading EU negotiations with the USA on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), given that she has recently been chosen E.U. Commissioner-designate for Trade.
That last comment refers to the fact that Malmström, the current head of the department involved, DG Home, and thus with ultimate responsibility for her staff’s actions, has been proposed as the new EU commissioner for trade, who would therefore take over the negotiation of TAFTA/TTIP from Karel De Gucht. Naturally, the possibility that her department was colluding with the US side to undermine data protection in the EU would not inspire confidence in her for this new role.
As part of her appointment process as trade commissioner, Malmström was questioned by Members of the European Parliament during a three-hour session on Monday. As well as being asked about key issues like corporate sovereignty — she said that she won’t take it out of CETA, but doesn’t exclude the possibility of removing ISDS from TTIP — she was also challenged on the allegations from Access, and replied as follows:
I have read those allegations; I totally reject them. I have always defended the European data protection proposals internally and externally. These are based on misconception or on lies and I think I have shown to this Parliament and other committees that I can negotiate with the United States tough agreements, where we stand up for European values, and I will certainly continue to do so. So I totally reject false allegations based on alleged leaked emails. I have always stood up for this formally, publicly and in all informal discussions.
Access has now replied to her statements (pdf), pointing out:
You have systematically refused to comment on “these allegations” from “a leaked email”. The document in question, referenced as “JN 656”, is neither an allegation nor a leak. It was legally acquired by Access on July 14, 2014, through a freedom of information request.
Access then went on:
The clear implication of your statement is that the email in question is not genuine. We therefore demand an immediate clarification: Are you accusing Access or the US Department of Commerce of having falsified a document?
Although it seems likely that Malmström will be confirmed as the new trade commissioner, it also looks like this story will rumble on for a while yet (pdf).
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Filed Under: cecilia malmstrom, compromises, data protection regulation, eu, privacy, trade agreements, us
Comments on “Newly Released Emails Raise Questions Of Whether EU Politicians Sold Out To US On Privacy”
Methinks the lady doth protest too much
“I sincerely object to the ugly truth.”
These desperate lies are just a matter of timing. Once she is in the seat of power, it will be much harder to drag her off again since, hoestly, what politician would try to get a politician fired over lies? It’s like calling bullshit on an oxen.
Re: Methinks the lady doth protest too much
Oy, no need to slander the good name of oxen, what did they do to you, that they deserve to be compared to politicians?
EU is USA’s bitch.
Re: Re:
First we won our Independence from them, then turn into them, and then make them our bitch.
Life is Comedy!
She did pass the vote
According to this http://euobserver.com/institutional/125820 she did pass the vote, although Junker has vowed to keep ISDS out of any further trade agreements.
Probably this means it will be reformulated and injected somewhere safe, where prying eyes won’t see it so easily. After all, the EU is the great benefactor when it comes to utilizing the ISDS.
Re: She did pass the vote
You mean like a subsisising agriculture bill, where it has no damned place?
TTIP
It seems obvious to me that this person cannot be trusted to negotiate TTIP. In fact I don`t see that anyone should be negotiating TTIP, it should simply be binned.
TTIP in it`s current form will allow `private` companies to sue governments if they feel that their trade is restricted by the laws of that government. This actually means US companies sueing EU Governments over perceived trade restrictions. So, if a US company wants to sell something damaging/dodgy in US they can be stopped by US Laws, but they will be allowed to sell it in EU without restriction, and they, the seller will have full protection under law to do so. No consumer laws in EU will be able to touch them.
It`s not reciprocal. It gives US companies massive powers in EU that even their goverment will not have.
Thisnk about this.
The US trained it’s pet well: “Dodge!”
Time to dig out the old tomes
It’s not just “1984” or “Animal Farm” or “Brave New World” where you have to say “I guess we did not expect the worst to be yet to come”. I suspect that the same can be said for “Das Kapital”. And the sad thing is even those who picked up all these works and “carried the cause” had no clue what they were working for or against.
This world is as if those works never were written or read. Or at least comprehended.
“Naturally, the possibility that her department was colluding with the US side to undermine data protection in the EU would not inspire confidence in her for this new role. “
I think the US administration would have *great* confidence in her for this new role.
The more I see of the internal workings of our “democracy”, the more disgusted I become.
Re: Re:
Its stupid to believe that anyone is a democracy… there is no such government on planet fucking earth and there never has been!
Instead of getting disgusted by it, you should be getting disgusted with the politician representing you! Have you clean that one out yet or are you stupid enough to believe that he is better than the rest. Unless they are in the news talking about cleaning up congress you cannot trust them period!
Re: Re: Re:
“Unless they are in the news talking about cleaning up congress you cannot trust them period!”
It doesn’t matter what they talk about on the news. Politicians lie, after all, and that “clean up congress” card is a time-honored talking point for pretty much all candidates. The only thing that matters is what they do.
If it is happening in Europe, it’s NOT called LOBBYING it’s called CORRUPTION!!
In Europe when a company influences a political vote, it is a case of corruption.
Learn the difference…
EU is NOT a democracy
The EU is controlled by the Commissioners. The Commissioners are appointed, not elected. Yes, there is an EU parliament, but it has few powers.
Fundamentally,the EU is not a democratic organization.
When EU Commissioners pushing rules that will benefit US companies to the detriment of the EU, there really are only two possibilities:
1. Stupidity
2. Corruption.
Re: EU is NOT a democracy
the EU is modeled after the UDSSR. That says about all you need to know about this construct.
Prefessional Wrestling
These “negotiations” are like professional wrestling: just for show. The outcome is predetermined behind closed doors and then a show is put on to reach that outcome.