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EU JUSTICE COMMISSIONER Viviane Reding has said she is determined to deliver new European data protection laws in the wake of revelations about covert US surveillance.
“PRISM has woken Europeans up to the need to have robust, strict rules,” Reding told AFP in an interview before informal talks with European Union justice ministers got underway in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Revelations about PRISM and other programmes by the US National Security Agency to capture and store personal information gleaned from emails, phone calls and web searches have sparked outrage, especially after tech giants such as Google, Skype or Facebook were implicated.
Reding said a joint declaration issued by France and Germany at the Lithuania talks marked a turning point in getting long-delayed legislative proposals moving again.
These proposals were on the verge of collapse but have been given a new lease of life after media reports about the US and also British role in gathering reams of data from commonly used social networks.
As a result, Reding said that British-led opposition within the EU, based on concerns over increased regulation and costs, was now irrelevant.
French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira and her German counterpart Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger signed a pledge to deliver a “high level of data protection.”
This, they said in their statement, would leave overseas public access to personal information “very strictly framed and tightly controlled”.
“People must know which personal data are collected by the telecommunications companies, to what extent these data are transferred to foreign public authorities and for what purposes,” they said.
This common position between Berlin and Paris is an “extremely useful” development, according to Reding.
“We can allow ourselves to forget Great Britain’s opposition on condition that the German engine unites a large majority, which will be the case,” she added.
Reding said some ministers wanted quick implementation but that a flood of anticipated amendments would mean next year would be more realistic for adoption of the new measures.
The issue has become sensitive for German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the run-up to September polls there.
Other governments too are under pressure from perceived or implicit collaboration with Washington.
Reding said she would be closely studying US provisions governing use of European data received from third-party sources.
“Is it really safe” to transfer EU citizens’ data to the United States without people’s knowledge?” she asked.
Reding wants penalties for breaches on data use to be high – up to two percent of global turnover, which would translate into massive fines for the biggest Internet companies.
US fines are currently in the low six-figures, a level Reding termed “pocket money.”
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This election worries me. Hope they realise a Mitt is for keeping hands warm and not Presidential material.
Unless you’re a Muppet.
I’m glad you raised that point Sean. Mitt is a shortened version of mitten. A glove. When Mitt was asked to name his son, he chose the name Tagg. It sounds similar to name tag. Both names seem to objectivy a person, there are some people within society that view others as objects. These names seem to add evidence to this theory.
“As it stands: Obama 3, Romney 51, too early to call 46″
According to BBC this “scoreline” never happened – currently Obama 56 Romney 40…….
Though I just see Sky news also just after going to Obamaa 65, Romney 82…….
Wouldn’t trust Sky, it’s as reliable as Fox. I believe nothing until Dimbleby says it.
Funny you should say that Sam! Here’s a post I put out on FB just a while ago….
Coffee and chocolate sky control! Go Obama!
I’ve been sucked in – A lot of indications were that there might be 1 or several weeks of legal challenges (which could still happen) but I’ve been totally sucked in now!
If they pick Romney expect everyone to be laughing at them in the morning
I’d even take Bush over Romney and that’s saying something.
Ah here… Let’s not get carried away…
The worst part is so would I. I mean Romney believes in magic underpants for feck sake and any person who believes that and who could be put in such a position of power…… that frightens the bejosephsmith out of me.
Ad hominem is alive and well, it seems
Mormons and their magic underpants, such stupid people.
@ Michael – Romney hasn’t told anyone what his actual plans are so ‘ad hominem’ is what we have!
Leave eh bleedin ouh…
@Joe, it only sounds stupid because there’s not a lot of them in Ireland. If there was a lot of any particular group around you you’d not think it was stupid.
Just like any christian magic.
Vote in Obama …. He deserves another 4 years of no recession ….. To get the USA back on its feet again – USA suffer we suffer …. Vote !!!!
I hope the coolest guy wins cos that would be cool, I like cool, mostly i like what the media says is cool.. this is going to be so cool..
Cool
It is extremely hard to understand that someone like Mitt is actually in with a chance of clinching this. The American electorate should know well he is a compulsive liar among other things.
Then again, I’m sure an American looking at Ireland last year would have found it hard to understand how we voted Fine Gael into power! Seems there’s a lot of idiots in both nations. Hopefully they don’t form the voting majority across the Atlantic this time though!
Romney is dangerous – a Mormon isn’t just for Christmas!
Brilliant Dave. Your comment speaks volumes.
Barack Obama will win a second term.
Willing it doesn’t make it happen!
To be fair, most Irish hope for Obama, probably mostly because we feel we could actually have a pint with him and curse at him in the way we do to all our pals…..
The primary thing going on is about economy – people talk about other things that will separate this vote and yes, there are other things but for the most part, economy is the one that actually swings it.
The real question about the economy is will people say that Obama has left it in sh*t or will they say that he inherited it that way from Bush? Will people realise that much of Obama’s promise for change hasn’t come to fruition not because he hasn’t followed through but because republicans have blocked him at every turn?
Yes we can, by god we better, Iran would be a great money spinner for Mitt and the lads
and let’s be honest, probably will be regardless….
I really hope Tiger Woods wins.
Obama won the in Guam. They don’t have any electoral college votes but have correctly picked the winner since 1984. Will be interesting to see if they’re right this time.
There’s a saying in presidential elections -’Iowa picks corn while Ohio picks presidents’, the adage is true as no president in history has ever become president without winning Ohio. It is the bellwether of the entire US, once it falls to Obama then the game is up.
Minge Romney. Go on, say it. Minge Romney. Hee hee.
This election is over, Obama has already won it. I say that as the most accurate method in political science at predictiing a Presidential race (Lichtman’s Keys to the White House) had already called this election for Obama as early as July 2010.
Professor Lichtman has never been wrong on predicting a future president and it is highly unlikely this election will be the first occasion. He wrote in July 2010 that Obama met most of his criteria on governing over the last 4 years and would therefore retain the White House. For any politicos out there who like to beat the bookies I can highly recommend following this guy- his system has won me money on every presidential election since 2000 and given Obama’s higher polling numbers in 7 out of 9 swing states I expect tonight to be no different from his previous form
http://www.aolnews.com/2010/07/12/professors-13-keys-predict-obama-will-get-re-elected/
…… but the robots were picking Romney….. I can’t compute this? Human lies!
Im still recovering after the Santos/McGarry campaign.
I was wondering how long til the west wing was mentioned
what I dont get is if the experts say this is too close to call, why has a bookies paid out on Obama winning already and all bookies have Obama at such short odds to win for the last few weeks, they can’t surely have their info so wrong.
The bookies will turn out to be right- studies have shown that bookies odds are a better and more accurate predictor of a presidential race than opinion polls are. Opinion polls ask ‘who do you intend to vote for’ whereas bookies odds ask ‘who do you think is going to win’. People who bet on politics do so with their head, people who answer opinion polls do so with their heart and then they might not even bother to vote on the day. When you introduce the financial gain incentive to get it right is much higher.
And as the bookies odds having been calling this election for Obama for several weeks now it is clear they’ve done their sums in the swing states an it is like a commentator said earlier “Obama has the math, Romney has the myth”
What bookies? Masters of stunt marketing, Paddy Power? Bookies are bookies for a reason. Yes, Obama is probably going to win but either way it doesn’t matter. If Obama wins- free marketing for two days and bets are payed. If Obama loses Paddy Power pay for their marketing and punters think “I love Paddy Power, they’re idiots and give away free money, let’s bet there”
Plus some punters will throw a few quid at Romney winning just to hope they can beat the bookies both ways. It’s a kind of reverse psychology thing there.
America needs a new centrist party. I’m personally neutral on this election.
As opposed to two right-wing parties?
Cmon O’bama. Don’t have me stay up for nothin!
My apologies for repeating myself, but Romney is not only a Mormon, but a Mormon bishop as well. Imagine a president of the USA being a bishop. Or, look at it another way, imagine a bishop becoming a president. I can’t quite articulate my misgivings, but then do I really have to?.
I’d be more concerned with the fact that he’s a bishop of a homophobic and historically racist cult.
Wow. Just throw the first amendment out.
Typical Obama supporter, shredding the constitution over an over again.
Patriot act, ACA, NDAA.
This is awful
Do you want to shred the bit in the 1st amendment about freedom of speech too Michael?
No problem with people practicing their religion personally though I do think it’s misguided. Unfortunately if you want to call in the 1st, you have to accept all that it entails.
Calling in what you want as it suits your argument? Typical Romney supporter….
Hahaha he thinks I’m a Romney supporter.
That’s cute.
Romney wouldn’t fix any of these things either. Both candidates are horrible.
My point is that you attack a man based on his religion. That’s just the same as doing it via race.
We’re not bigoted or racist, are we?
Bush! Romney! Crazy Mormons! Hates gays! Magic underpants! Booo republicans.
Go Obama! Kittens. Yay Democrats.
If you care about the domestic economy, Romney.
If you care about social issues, Obama.
If you care about foreign policy, the NDAA, the ‘repeal the 4th amendment’ (Patriot Act), national debt, interventionism, freedom, against drone strikes, auditing the federal reserve and following the constitution by actually declaring war through congress, you vote for….
Who??
“23.37 –
NBC says Obama’s been spending the day having basketball”
I know when I’m having a stressful day, having some basketball really makes it better.
Gooey, sweet sweet basketball. NOM
Bejosephsmith ….Love it!!!!!! My new word for the day …… No worries, O’bama has it in the bag
Why does the media constantly say that the ‘electoral college system is “very complicated”‘? This drives me mad, it’s as simple as shit! All you need to understand it is basic addition arithmetic, or ‘math’…
Well done Obama
Obama and Romney don’t run their twitter or facebook pages – their campaign offices do
Yes but Obama tweets from those accounts every now and again.
Result!!! Congratulations America :)
Everyone should watch the election explainer videos on YouTube by CGPGrey , he explains the electoral college (and how you can ‘technically’ win with just 22% of the populations vote) .. http://youtu.be/7wC42HgLA4k . He also explains what happens in the case of a tie
Thanks for that…easy to understand.
So Mitt Has said he only has a victory speech written. Well I say get Writing Romney. Go Barack!!! 4more years!!!
Well done to The Journal for the updates too. What a fantastic result for Obama :)
Congrats Barack Obama on winning a second term.
Obama is a sexy beast :-P
Obama posted on Reddit again an hour ago, by the way:
“I want to thank you all again for the reception you gave me in August for my AMA. Good questions. Definitely not bad.
I’m checking in because polls will start closing in this election in just a few hours, and I need you to vote.
Millions of Americans have stepped up in support of this campaign over the last 19 months, and today we decide what the next four years look like — but only if we show up.
I ask that you go out there and cast your vote, whatever your political persuasion.
You can confirm your polling location here:
https://www.barackobama.com/lookup
If you’ve voted already, don’t stop there — spread the word to your friends, roommates, and neighbors. Think of it as upvoting.”
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/12r7yb/reddit_this_is_important/c6xgw22
If he posted on 4chan’s /b/ he might get a few votes……
….over 9000……
Fingers crossed for Obama.
Thank The Gods. I can go to sleep now. Go Obama. So say we all!
All polls closed by CNN! More coffee time!
Game on!
Relief! Americans you did good!
What a relief. Thanks Jen+ Gavan. Was worried to see 162:162 at 04:00. This is good news. Go on Obama and hope they get rid of the republicans in two years time to really implement change. Phew
I recon it’s going to be A Very Long & interesting Election result’s Night. What Do U Think?
I want Obama to win, although I think Romney could make it interesting..
Just want to say that a man who can say that biologically a woman cannot get pregnant by rape…………..hmmmmm
Romney ran out of white folks. That’s what a one of the men said on CNN.
OBAMA!!! OBAMA!!! OBAMA!!!
Re Fun Fact: Republicans haven’t won a US presidential election without a Bush or Nixon on ticket since 1928.
Wasn’t Gerald Ford a Republican President in the 70s and I don’t think his VP was either a Bush or Nixon
He was elected as Nixons Vice President. He only took office by default when Nixon resigned. He lost at the next election to Jimmy Carter.
Cheers Andy :-)
gerry ford was put in place after Nixon was forced to resign.
Let’s be honest here.
This is SHOCKING, that it is so close.
How could a panderer like Romney be even close in this election?
Might just show you how bad Obama really has been and more of the same for another 4.
Fox News website seems to be ahead of CNN in providing “results.”
Nice graphic novel review of the campaign on the guardian website
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2012/nov/06/america-elect-graphic-novel
Wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow. Have to turn in!!
Scary to think Romney is more popular
Change !
A bit one sided here! Think I’ll stick with Twitter.
Congratulations on the re- election of Barack Obama.
Over 6 Billion was spent on the U.S. political campaigns to tell the Americans how good they are with money and debt.
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