Swedish Pirate Party support soars after file-sharing verdict

Support for the Pirate Party, a political party running in the European elections, has soared in the wake of last week's conviction of the four Swedish founders of the file-sharing site.

Backing for the Swedish Pirate Party has now leapfrogged that of the domestic Green Party. While it may be a blip of anger after the verdict and opinions may change come election day, almost 50 percent of young men under 30 say they intend to vote for the new faction in the June 2009 elections to the European Parliament.

http://euobserver.com/9/27969/?rk=1

5 Security Flubs Users Make When Browsing the Web

From haphazardly installing Active X controls, to ignoring security warnings, a look at five common ways users get off the security track online and ways to set them straight: http://www.csoonline.com/article/489738/_Security_Flubs_Users_Make_When_Browsing_the_Web_

EU deal to tighten oversight of rating agencies

Euractiv.com reports that European Union legislators have struck a political agreement over new rules to tighten control of credit rating agencies such as Fitch and Moody's, which have been singled out among the main culprits for the financial turmoil.

The key element of the agreement, reached on Wednesday (15 April) between representatives of the European Parliament, member states and the Commission, concerns the registration and supervision of rating agencies.

According to the deal, the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR ), a body made up of national regulators, will be temporary in charge of registering credit rating agencies. So far registration was not required.

The new rules require the CESR to manage a database of historical performance information about rating agencies operating in the EU. This should allow users of rating services - such as investors - to quickly verify the accuracy of economic predictions and compare them with competitors

Under the new rules, credit rating agencies will have an obligation to disclose the names of rated companies that contribute to more than 5% of an agency's revenue. This is to prevent biased ratings driven by financial interest. They will also be forbidden to rate companies in which their analysts own shares or financial products. The consulting and advisory role of rating agencies will also be denied to companies which are themselves subject to rating. Analysts will be forced to rotate in order to avoid becoming too close to the industry sector they rate.

For more go to http://www.euractiv.com/en/financial-services/eu-deal-tighten-oversight-rating-agencies/article-181344

"Personal data - more use, more protection?", 19-20 May 2009

The European Commission organises a personal data use and protection conference to look at new challenges for privacy.

How should personal data be protected in a globalised world with increased mobility and in the wake of modern communication and information technologies and new policies? Which data is accessed and exchanged by public authorities and private companies? How well are current rules on international transfers of personal data working in a time of “cloud computing”? What are the expectations of individuals and business and society as a whole? These and other topical questions will be addressed by a conference on the use, exchange and protection of personal data in the EU, organised by the European Commission, which will take place in Brussels on 19 and 20 May 2009.

Interested individuals, business leaders, consumer associations, academics, data protection supervisors and public authorities from both the EU and third countries are invited to take part.
Among the speakers will be the Vice-president of the European Commission in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, Mr Jacques Barrot.

The conference will give the opportunity to various stakeholders to express their views and questions on the new challenges for data protection and the need for an effective information management strategy in the EU. The conference is part of the Commission’s open consultation on how the fundamental right to protection of personal data can be further developed and effectively respected, in particular in the area of freedom, justice and security.
Interpretation will be provided in English, French and German.

http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/events/news_events_en.htm

EU says UK failing to protect internet users' privacy

According to EUobserver.com, the European Commission has threatened to take the UK to court over "structural" failures to guarantee internet users' privacy, in line with European law.
In a formal letter sent from Brussels to London on Tuesday (14 April), the commission gave UK authorities two months to respond to criticism of new web surveillance technology or face legal action at the Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

The complaint centres around US-based software company Phorm, which uses records of people's surfing activity obtained from internet service providers to help advertisers target customers more accurately.

Read the entire article here: http://euobserver.com/9/27945/?rk=1

Commission recommends staff to be intransparent

EU affairs blogger Julien Frisch reports that in a Vademcum (handbook) leaked on Wikileaks it has become obvious that the Commission is advising its staff to write documents and emails in way that allow maximum intransparency.

Continue reading here: http://julienfrisch.blogspot.com/2009/04/commission-recommends-its-staff-to-be.html

UK Counter-terrorism chief quits after revealing confidential document to photographers

Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer has resigned after making a security blunder which caused an anti-terror operation to be brought forward, the BBC report. Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick inadvertently revealed secret papers to photographers when arriving for a Downing Street briefing on Wednesday.

Continue reading here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7991307.stm