Source: ReclaimTheNet.org
New Europol rules expanded the powers of the EU law enforcement agency while reducing human rights protections and oversight over its data processing operations, according to a report by Statewatch.
Enforcement of the rules started in June.
Europol processes data exchange between EU members and other entities. Therefore, the new rules increase the powers of all law enforcement agencies that work with Europol.
The new rules allow Europol to process “investigative data” that could cover anyone anywhere as long as it is related to a “specific criminal investigation.” The agency is, therefore, allowed to process large quantities of data transferred to its member states on individuals who might be innocent and with no links to crime, and as a result, legalizes an activity Europol was reprimanded for by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).
The new rules also allow Europol to launch “research and innovation” projects, which will focus on the use of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data to process sensitive data like ethnicity and genetic information.
Data obtained from non-EU countries can now be used for “information alerts” in the Schengen Information System database….