It claims that on every policy involving mass surveillance of citizens, the EU is prepared to go well beyond what the US Government finds acceptable.
The report highlights the differences between the EU and US in terms of access to communications data, retention of communications transactions, data profiling and data mining, access to passenger reservation files and biometric registration. In each case, the report suggests, the EU is implementing surveillance powers well beyond those in the US, and with far less openness and debate over such measures.
“It is no surprise that governments introduce harsh laws after terrorist attacks. But what is surprising when you compare the surveillance laws in Europe and the US, is that the EU always goes further,” said the organisation’s senior fellow, Dr Gus Hosein. “The EU and some of its member states may paint the US as a monster when it comes to anti-terror powers and civil liberties but they need to look into the mirror every now and then.”