EU Project Urges ‘RESPECT’ for Citizens In Use of Surveillance Technology

Aptly called RESPECT, which stands for “Rules, Expectations & Security through Privacy-Enhanced Convenient Technologies," the project -- funded with €3.5 million by the European Union Seventh Framework Program (FP7) -- is a collaborative effort among European universities and agencies that aims to balance privacy and security in the use of these technologies.

The project was born out of concern for people’s privacy when surveillance devices are often designed for and marketed to governments where privacy is not a concern. By integrating privacy rules into product design, manufacturers and law-enforcement agencies can ensure surveillance devices not only comply with existing legislation, but also increase people's acceptance of those technologies.

An EU-based project called RESPECT is urging just that when it comes to the use of surveillance cameras like this one.
(Source: EBN)

The project is based on seven principles of privacy by design, which it plans to promote in the use of surveillance across Europe. These principles are:

The project also plans to develop a toolkit for application across Europe to balance citizens’ privacy and security concerns that project leaders hope will be adopted elsewhere in the world. According to the project website, the toolkit will include:

You can read more about RESPECT on our sister site, EBN.

Elizabeth Montalbano is a freelance writer who has written about technology and culture for more than 15 years. She has lived and worked as a professional journalist in Phoenix, San Francisco, and New York City. In her free time she enjoys surfing, traveling, music, yoga, and cooking. She currently resides in a village on the southwest coast of Portugal.