EU Citizens Privacy Rights in Danger: EU politicians lobby against American terrorist finance program
The European Commission came under fire from MEP's during a plenary session of the Parliament over concerns from "millions of Europeans" that the “Terrorist Finance Tracking Program” that has been tracking and intercepting bank transactions from European based SWIFT is an invasion of European citizens privacy and an abuse of human rights.
London MEP Claude Moraes who addressed the Parliament said:"We in this house must ensure that delicate balance of protecting the fundamental rights of European citizen’s freedoms and the importance of the continued fight against terrorism". Another MEP expressed her concerns that the European Commission had debated the issue behind closed doors and said: "Why is the American government trying to get information on us in Europe? The issue is about transparency and this entire debate should be made public, the citizens of Europe demand this transparency".
At present the European Union has in place an interim agreement under negotiation between the EU and the United States on data transfers via the SWIFT network. MEP's have attacked the European Council for not encompassing the concerns of European citizens in the agreement. Note EU-Digest: EU citizens are being urged to contact their political representatives to demand more clarity on this important issue of Citizens Privacy Rights.
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