Call for action

International Action Day “Freedom not fear – Stop the surveillance mania!” on 12 September 2009

Again a wide movement of engaged people and civil organisations call for protests against the security craze. On 12 September 2009 the people will carry their protests again in the streets of many countries by the slogan “Freedom Not Fear – Stop the surveillance-mania!” Peacefull and creative protest from demonstration to parties to artistic actions shall characterize the protests this year.

Not just in Germany but all over the world, states invest heavily in mass surveillance and centralised data retention programmes. These surveillance measures include the preemptive retention of communication, profiling movements, tax and financial transactions, interpersonal relationships, individual behaviour and medical records and much more. Usually these measures are justified by the “Fighting of Terrorism” and “Fight against organised Crime” Data was not collected specially from suspicious people but from everybody by o reason at all.

But these programmes do not only collect data of suspected criminals, but everyone – without given suspicion. The building up of the safety measurements by mass observation means de facto a destruction of the presumption of innocence which is a basic pillar of a democratic rule of law.

Besides, such mass surveillance will not increase security to an extent that would justify these high costs and the erosion of democratic norms and values.

When the snooping into the private sphere by the state becomes normality the guaranty of dignity of mankind is not only in danger but put out of action. Man becomes an object of a mistrusting state. He is robbed of his dignity by beeing looked upon as a potential criminal or enemy of the state.

In addition to the operational upgrade by the use of mass surveillance there is a worrying increase in centralisation of powers and a tendency to weaken the separation between secret services, police and military.

For the democratic basic order secret services and police must operate independently. History tought us many lessons on the violence which a state can develop if this separation is not maintained. The state is only a democratic and free state, when it remains within the self-imposed limits; if it confines itself to its own high values.

An integral part of a state under the rule of law is the legal prohibition of blanket mass surveillance, a plentiful violation of privacy, and the guarantee of the principle, that lawful interventions may always be ultima ratio.

In a free and just society there has to be confidence in the citizens the mainspring for the state, and not mistrust. On the other hand, the people must be able to trust the state that it will generally not interfere with their basic rights without reasonable justification, limited to single cases and with judicial review. Human dignity and basic laws are an integral part of a democratic state and must be guranteed.

As dedicated citizens, representatives of civil society organizations, we urge the policy with power, security and surveillance laws by independent bodies on the effectiveness, potential harm and fundamental rights that are equivalent. While this has not happened, we demand an immediate stop of additional monitoring and safety laws.

We do not want a society shaped by fear and suspicion. We want a society that is peaceful and free, which gives equal opportunities to every single one of its members and no one is excluded. A society in which no one has to fear the omniscient state and citizens are able to assume responsibility for their own lifes.

We are convinced that the best tools for combating the crime are education, poverty reduction, integration and social responsibility and political participation. Politicians and civil society are jointly called for action to develop alternative policies.

To raise awareness of the protests most effectively, this year’s protests will take place shortly before the Ministers of Inner Affairs of the EU will meet in Stockholm to adopt the “Stockholm Programme” regarding measures f “inner security” within the EU  – We want our politicians to see that once again people are willing to stand up for an open and peaceful society. We urge everyone to join our peaceful protest.

You can find the latest information on the protest marches and the list of participating cities at our website: http://freedomnotfear2009.org

Our demands

1. Cutback on surveillance

• abolish the blanket logging of our communications and locations (data retention)
• abolish the blanket collection of our biometric data as well as RFID passports
• abolish the blanket collection of genetic data
• abolish permanent CCTV camera surveillance and automatic detection techniques
• scrap funding for the development of new surveillance techniques
• no blanket registration of all air travellers (PNR data)
• no information exchange with the US and other states lacking effective data protection
• no secret searches of private computer systems, neither online nor offline
• no blanket surveillance and filtering of internet communications (EU Telecoms-Package)
• stop the upgrading of the EU’s external borders (e.g. FRONTEX, eBorder)
• stop the increased integration of police, secret services and military
• no blanket surveillance of refugees (Visa Waiver, SIS II, VIS, EuroDAC)
• stop of the “Stockholm Programme”, which sets the agenda for EU justice and home affairs and internal security policy from 2010 to 2014 (we also support the protests against the “Stockholm Programme”)
  

2. Evaluation of existing surveillance laws and development of alternatives

• We call for an independent evaluation of existing laws and powers to their effectiveness and adverse effects on civil and human rights.
• We call for a joint reflection of politics and society for the development of effective alternatives to crime and terrorism laws, for example, by:
  • expansion of educational opportunities
  • intensification of measures of poverty reduction
  • intensification of intercultural and interreligious dialogue
  • development of infrastructures for victim counseling
  • development of violence prevention and education campaigns in the area of violent crime and sexual violence

3. Moratorium for new surveillance powers

• After the homeland armament of the past few years we demand an immediate hold to new homeland security laws that further restrict civil liberties.

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