From 6 to 8 July 2005 the leaders of the 8 richest industrial countries, the G8, will meet in Gleneagles, Scotland. This upcoming G8-summit has been in the media spotlight for debating solutions to the world poverty, but is equally important as a driving force of the surveillance society. According to an article in the Guardian the leaders will discuss a plan to exchange and bundle terrorism research, computer material and possibly DNA and fingerprint samples, "testing the limits of data protection and privacy laws". This proposal was prepared by a 3 day meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs ministers in Sheffield, UK from 16 to 18 June 2005.
Researcher Tom Blickmann from the Dutch Trans National Institute recently published a convincing analysis of the previous law enforcement activities from the G8. "The G8 is more than just a series of summit meetings. Over the years a full-fledged programme of political co-ordination has grown up around this annual event. Although the G8 is no more than an informal grouping, which can only create obligations for its members, nonetheless, its intention is to raise issues, which can then be taken further by the eight member states using other multilateral instruments." Blickmann sees a predominant US national security interest effectively turned into EU legislation. "No one doubts that international cooperation is needed to address global security issues, but there is serious doubt on the effectiveness of the current construction of a global enforcement regime, as well as worries about the predominant role of the US in setting the agenda." In stead, he argues for a human security concept, which takes into account root causes and social solutions and puts more emphasis on good governance, social and economic development and human rights.
Quite likely, the leaders will also discuss a harmonisation of the current EU proposal for mandatory data retention with the United States, Canada, Japan and Russia. The G8 already organised a workshop about data retention in May 2001 and published a data retention wish-list in May 2002, well aware of the fact that the Cybercrime Treaty already provided law enforcement with abundant data preservation powers. While the US House of Congress never considered data retention proposals, not even after 9/11, the climate in the US apparently is changing. In a secret meeting between Justice Department officials, Internet service providers and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a proposal was discussed to oblige ISPs to store traffic data for 2 months. Journalist Declan McCullagh has a report about the meeting. He quotes Dave McClure, president of the U.S. Internet Industry Association, which represents small to midsize companies: "We were told, "You're going to have to start thinking about data retention if you don't want people to think you're soft on child porn."
G8 to pool data on terrorism (18.06.2005)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g8/story/0,13365,1509268,00.html
Tom Blickman: G8 and Security (17.06.2005)
http://www.tni.org/archives/tblick/g8.htm
G8 press declaration: Principles on the Availability of Data Essential to
Protecting Public Safety (May 2002)
http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/news/g8/doc3.html
Report of G8 workshop on data retention (May 2001)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/i_crime/high_tec/conf0105-4.html
Declan McCullagh: Your ISP as Net watchdog (16.06.2005)
http://news.com.com/Your+ISP+as+Net+watchdog/2100-1028_3-5748649.html