The Lawfulness of Non-DSC Data at Europol

• In Event: POL Panel 13. Criminal justice data collection, data analysis and surveillance

Abstract

Over the past years Europol supported national law enforcement to counter organized crime by unravelling covered and encrypted methods of communication. The personal data in obtained bulk data sets should be categorized before further processing these. Europol conducted this categorization process until the EDPS complained about the insufficient data protection standards and decided the process should be completed within six months. Following legislative intervention, Europol’s legal framework was unnecessary broadened, as this article argues Europol already had the contested competence. Contrary thereto, the legislative intervention made Europol’s framework complex and will give rise to disputes.

Author

• Wannes Bellaert, Ghent University