WRITTEN QUESTION E-0692/04 by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission. Invasion of privacy at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: International Telecommunication Union, information society, personal data, protection of privacy

C 84 E/844

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2004)

The Commission would note that the obstacles to the exercise of property rights to which the Honourable
Member refers and for which the Greek authorities are responsible have no apparent link with Community
law. Thus, the Commission is not empowered to take action in this case. It would be otherwise only if
these measures were an obstacle to residence in Greece by Union citizens. However, the Commission does
not have any evidence that this is the case.

(2004/C 84 E/0937)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0692/04

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Invasion of privacy at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

According to information obtained from the Commission, it would appear that at the 10/12 December
2003 Geneva World Summit on the Information Society, badges fitted with radio-frequency microchips
(RFID technology) were used in order to control access to certain restricted areas.

In its reply to question P-4002/03 (1) the Commission (in the person of Mr Liikanen, Commissioner) states
that it will undertake ‘to obtain further information in order to ascertain whether (and, if so, how) RFID-
based applications were used in connection with personal data transferred from the European Union, with
a view to assessing the legitimacy (cid:1) in the light of Community law (cid:1) of the way in which the data were
processed.’

Has the Commission pursued its investigations and,
concerning the use of RFID technology by the organisers of the WSIS and the Swiss Government?

if so, what further information has it obtained

Has the Commission launched a study into the legitimacy (cid:1) in the light of Community law (cid:1) of the way
in which the WSIS organisers processed the data?

What information does the Commission hold concerning the transfer to third countries of the data
gathered in the course of the WSIS, with particular reference to the fact that the second stage of the WSIS
will be held in Tunisia in November 2005?

(1) See page 129.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 2004)

As announced in the response given to the Honourable Member’s written question P-4002/03 on the same
subject, the Commission has enquired informally with the Swiss authorities regarding the use of RFID-
based technology at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS).

The Commission was informed that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the supporting
United Nations (UN) agency for the WSIS was responsible for the organisation of security measures at the
Summit.

The Commission has therefore sent a letter on 17 March 2004 to the Secretary-General of the ITU seeking
further information on whether and how RFID-based applications were used in relation to personal data
transferred from the EU, in order to assess the legality of the processing under EU law, and has also asked
for an appreciation of such measures under Swiss law.

No reply has been received to date.