A new investigation lays bare the enormity of Europol’s rogue tactics: the agency maintained a ‘shadow IT environment’ parallel to their official databases. Keeping a second set of books is a mob classic to hide from scrutiny. Europol’s case was no different: the parallel database was outside the agency’s legal framework with almost no safeguards and limited oversight.
The EU Commission is framing these proposals as a humanitarian effort to “curb exploitation” by “ruthless smuggling gangs” — but this disguises a more insidious reality.
Collecting additional biometric data has been justified by EU policymakers because it was reported that some asylum seekers voluntarily burn or damage their fingers to alter their fingerprints and avoid identification.
Police forces around Europe seem hooked on the habit of collecting information on a massive scale and forwarding it to the EU’s police agency, Europol. This undermines privacy, fair trial rights and the presumption of innocence.
Fair Trials, EDRi and other civil society organisations are calling on MEPs to hold true to protect our fundamental rights. We urge MEPs to vote against the revision of Europol’s mandate, which distinctly lacks meaningful accountability and safeguards.