But then look what happened after 2006/24/EC, the data retention directive, all the little nazi's crawled out of the woodwork.

Suddenly laws were being passed to monitor all politically active people (France) simply on the claim that they may be a threat at some time in future. Swedens, 'monitor everyone in case they become Russian spies' law, UK's, 'all Ur data belong us', German interior minister lobbying for total monitoring of all communications all the time, just because he has a shit life as a cripple, everyone else should suffer.

Since the MEPs are elected, it's a big feedback loop to them when this cr*p gets through, they get the only feedback from the public.

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg is actually closed at the moment because the ceiling fell in. MEPs are meeting in Brussels instead.

I'm seeing a number of positive initiatives recently - patent workers on strike demanding they be allowed to do a better job, US judges coming down against RIAA snooping and now this! It's playing havoc with my cynicism. Okay, this isn't perfect but it's good to see some MEPs care enough about this to try and do *something*. Anyone know the names of those responsible? They deserve some good publicity, I'd guess.

Paris - because she cares deeply about privacy, too.

From the headline I had assumed that the proposal would have been "no privacy for anyone except state officials". That would have followed the usual principle of "One rile for us, one rule for them" that seems to have become the norm lately.

The fact that individual privacy is a concern at these levels is good. Now, lets have some strong protections please.