Euro MPs block bank data deal with US

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

The European Parliament has blocked a key agreement that allows US anti-terror officials to monitor Europeans' bank transactions.

The vote was a rebuff to intensive US lobbying for EU help in counter-terrorism investigations.

EU governments had negotiated a nine-month deal which would have allowed the US to continue accessing the Swift money transfer system.

But Euro MPs said the deal provided insufficient privacy safeguards.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8510471.stm

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The USA need's to grasp that we don't have our data protection laws just for a laugh.

[MetaTrope]

1. Privacy concerns, eh?

Wonder if that's why Bush stopped tracking terrorist funding in the early months of his first term.

[harun]

2. When it comes to privacy for the rich, governments don't take long to act.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Our data protection act

covers , and is for the benefit of, the entire population. http://www.ico.gov.uk/home/what_we_cover/data_protection.aspx I've never quite made out whether or not you have a direct equivalent.

[cory777]

4. European Union denies US snoops access to electronic banking data

Source: Raw Story

By Stephen C. Webster
Thursday, February 11th, 2010 -- 8:10 pm

A U.S. push to legally access data generated by Europe's electronic banking activity has been rebuffed by EU lawmakers in a vote of parliament, according to published reports.

Though U.S. snoops have been allowed to access data through the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift) since the beginning of February on the basis of a provisional security agreement, "Liberal, Socialist and Green euro-MPs" were successful in vetoing the deal, Euronews reported.

Citing privacy concerns, members of parliament voted 378 to 196 in favor of the veto, with 31 members abstaining.

"U.S. diplomats in Brussels called the move 'a setback for U.S.-EU counter-terror cooperation,'" Dow Jones Newswires noted.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/2010/02/european-union-denies-snoops-access-banking-data/

[The Northerner]

5. Why was this requested anyway?

[BadgerKid]

6. Take a wild guess. You are correct.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7654737

[clixtox]

7. Totalitarianism, repression, confiscation and intimidation.

Of course they will constantly and consistently lie their asses off convincing gullible, ingenuous Americans that this scrutiny is necessary for our freedom, safety, and the continuity of the "American way".

And this is supposed to be the land of the free and home of the brave!

Maybe once upon a time, but not for quite awhile now, with those few exceptions willing to expose the ongoing political farce, like Ralph Nader or the Green Party, usually being demonized for their patriotism.

[Vidar]

8. Good for Europe.