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Germany: Further step towards the introduction of “Cell Broadcast“
So far, German authorities can only notify mobile phones of an impending disaster if their owners have registered beforehand. Soon it will be possible to warn all phones within a certain radius. It is questionable who will decide whether to… Further reading
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Germany: Bavaria upgrades police aerial surveillance
The Bavarian government is stepping up police video surveillance. In addition to aerial observation and mobile camera vans, the interior minister announces research into facial, behavioural and pattern recognition. As probably the first German authority with security tasks, the Bavarian… Further reading
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Frontex closes surveillance gaps in the air and in space
High-flying drones are to reconnoitre the EU’s external borders from the stratosphere, a static zeppelin is already observing close to the ground. With interception systems in space, the EU border agency wants to locate and possibly tap satellite telephones in… Further reading
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German police use drone to combat social benefit fraud
Along with Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the pioneers in the use of police drones. Now an unmanned aircraft is being used to track organised fraudulent benefits to the disfavor of the job centre The German Federal Criminal Police… Further reading
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Border drones (Part 1): Unmanned surveillance of the EU’s external borders by Frontex
Since 2009, the EU Border Agency Frontex has been hosting training events on drones and inviting manufacturers to regular demonstrations. There, border police from Schengen member states were presented market-available unmanned systems for the surveillance of land and maritime borders.… Further reading
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Sea rescue in the Aegean: Greek secret service persecutes human rights observers
The government in Athens is targeting organisations and individuals who observe and document human rights violations. An “information management” agency set up with EU funding is involved in the investigation. Once again, Greek authorities are striking a blow against European… Further reading