BRUSSELS – The European Commission is imposing gag orders on MEPs and preventing journalists access to discussions at the parliament’s civil liberties committee. […]
A minor protest erupted at the Safe Harbour session in the committee last week when far-left MEP German Cornelia Ernst along with Dutch liberal Sophie In’t Veld voted to suspend the so-called in-camera session. In-camera sessions are not open to the public. It also means MEPs are under threat of sanctions should they discuss the issue outside the room. […]
Data law in question:
Safe Harbour is enforced by the US Federal Trade Commission and is supposed to ensure US firms follow EU data protection laws when processing the personal data of EU citizens. […]
The Americans are unhappy with the commission’s proposal to require companies to publish the privacy conditions of any contract they conclude with subcontractors.[…]
Companies, under certain US Patriot Act provisions, are banned from notifying the data subject or the data protection authority in Europe should US authorities request access to the personal details of an EU national. […]
http://euobserver.com/justice/126876