Statewatch

Europol could have your data without you even knowing. And the newly proposed Europol regulation would mean even fewer restrictions on what they can do with it. The EU police agency is set to receive unprecedented access to personal data related to current and potential cross-border investigations.

It’s part of a wider plan to expand AI in policing. The regulation would permit Europol to evade procedural safeguards, such as ensuring data stored on people is limited and proportionate to their involvement in a crime.

The head of the UK’s College of Policing said the police need AI injected into their daily work “like heroin into the bloodstream.” He also thinks the National Centre for AI in Policing should spread AI tools “like wildfire through policing.”

The EU has blocked the release of files which may outline plans to pressure countries into migration deals by withholding aid. Last summer, the Commission proposed new ways to divide funding for non-EU countries.

We sought access to any discussion about these plans via freedom of information requests (FOIs). In response, the EU Commission identified 11 documents—but withheld access to all of them.

The EU has blocked the release of files which may outline plans to pressure countries into migration deals by withholding aid. Last summer, the Commission proposed new ways to divide funding for non-EU countries.

Within two years of October 2023, the number of contracts between Israeli companies and public institutions in the EU grew to 112. The total value in that period is estimated at nearly €1.6 billion.

3/ And the public institutions? These are universities, government departments, health bodies, energy providers, police, and militaries. European taxpayers should demand that their money not be handed to a genocidal state. Together, we must demand that public institutions uphold justice.

Within two years of October 2023, the number of contracts between Israeli companies and public institutions in the EU grew to 112. The total value in that period is estimated at nearly €1.6 billion.

1/ A recent academic project, Probable Futures, mapped 70 uses of AI in the criminal justice system. These range from emergency call handling and evidence assessment to crime ‘prediction’ and automated analysis of video footage.

3/ At the same time, a senior police chief has said the technology should be spread like "wildfire" throughout policing. Among the technologies in use is a video analytics software produced by an Israeli-founded company called Briefcam.

1/ A recent academic project, Probable Futures, mapped 70 uses of AI in the criminal justice system. These range from emergency call handling and evidence assessment to crime ‘prediction’ and automated analysis of video footage.

1/ The border has not disappeared—it has been transformed. Politicians talk about the need for "legal migration pathways" (while at the same time pushing deportations) and development agencies and private consultancies apparently have the answer: Circular Labour Mobility Schemes.

3/ These schemes see people brought into European countries—often after they pay significant up-front costs—to fill labour vacancies with minimal protections and visas tied to their employment.

1/ The border has not disappeared—it has been transformed. Politicians talk about the need for "legal migration pathways" (while at the same time pushing deportations) and development agencies and private consultancies apparently have the answer: Circular Labour Mobility Schemes.

Public institutions in the EU hold hundreds of contracts with Israeli companies worth almost €2.7 billion. Trade sanctions or boycotts could have a profound impact on Israel’s economy and its ability to wage war. Yet, the EU has taken no meaningful action.

The public wants to see an end to support for a state that: • commits war crimes • commits crimes against humanity • stands accused of genocide and apartheid. And public institutions should be responsive to the demands of the public.

We're excited to announce that we've just launched our new website. Here's a quick rundown of the biggest changes 🧵

• Contributor bios: Few seem to know how small our team is, yet fewer still know about the many incredible people we are fortunate to call contributors. We knew that, with this new site, we wanted a way to feature this group and give each of them a place to collect the work they've submitted to us.

We're excited to announce that we've just launched our new website. Here's a quick rundown of the biggest changes 🧵

• Research page: This now contains all of our projects, reports, and bulletins, as well as an endless archive of our observatories, SEMDOC, and Statewatch Journals. We wanted to make it easier to see what we are still actively working on, and give a home to our huge online archive.

We're excited to announce that we've just launched our new website. Here's a quick rundown of the biggest changes 🧵

Just leaked: We've obtained one of the latest working documents of the deportation regulation (a.k.a. "returns regulation”), by the EU Parliament, the EU Council, and the EU Commission. From what we can tell so far, no improvements have been made, despite relentless campaigning.

Instead, it looks like the Parliament, Council, and Commission still want to: • enable the deportation of children; • give national police forces extensive grounds for violence; • put in place wide grounds for imprisonment; and • enable states to weaken safeguards in 'emergency' situations

Europol is hiring a new director to replace Catherine de Bolle. At the same time, Frontex's former director faces a French court for complicity in crimes against humanity.