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­ Donate >> Bi-weekly bulletin Issue 26/13 ­ Dear Statewatcher, We've been busy this summer. You might remember that before our bulletin took a break, we revealed an absurd deal between the EU and US to exchange data for border screening purposes. We even helped coordinate a petition to change it. More recently, we were leaked the second draft of the deal, and our concerns deepened. Now, the US is pushing back on safeguarding sensitive data (i.e. race, sexuality, etc), with the excuse that they could already infer certain information from available data (for example, using postcodes). Similarly, in July, we released plans for Europe to exchange data with Israel's security forces via Europe's police agency, Europol. Both deals ignore the grave threats to human rights, and the ongoing harms perpetrated by the US and Israel. We also increased our work in the UK, focusing specifically on the use of AI in policing. We reported on the growing use of live facial recognition technology in England, and the 70 different AI technologies currently being tested by police forces in England and Wales. In our latest article, we even revealed multi-million-pound contracts with a subsidiary of BAE Systems. BAE Systems produces and sells parts for jets and artillery systems that have been used extensively by the Israeli military in its genocide in Gaza. chip in to support our work >> We have been able to investigate and report on these issues thanks to the support of our funders and individual donors. Every freedom of information request, every hour of research, and every video report was made possible by the people who back us. But we know these contracts and deals are just the beginning. With even a small amount of support from more of you, we could explore more issues or dive deeper into ones we are already following.  Here are some examples: If you gave €5/£5 per month… We could submit 50 more FOIs per year If you gave €10/£10 per month… You would directly support nearly one day of research per year. That may not sound like a lot, but it makes a huge difference. Right now, our researchers are overstretched. In a single day, they attend meetings with our networks, brief lawyers on illegal actions by state actors, and read an endless number of pages of official documents to uncover what's hidden within them. If you gave €25/£25 per month… You'd be giving us enough to submit complaints to official bodies like the EU ombudsman and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). For example, the US's use of cameras on the UK's border may be an infraction we could act upon. If their operations are not compliant with human rights standards, which we know they aren't, we can file a complaint to the OECD. Essentially, this would enable us to take direct action based on our research. We have done it before, but too often we are too overstretched. However you show your support—even if it's just by continuing to follow our work and stay informed—we are incredibly grateful. We are living through dark times, but by shining a light on important issues, we can prevent things from festering in the shadows. In solidarity, Alamara Khwaja Bettum Statewatch Director ­ Latest articles ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ UK hands millions to BAE Systems for police data plans 1 Sept ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Leaked: Latest EU-US data exchange draft shows EU still submitting to US demands 24 Aug ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Europol silences critics with expensive private law firm 18 Aug ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Spain: Newspaper that exposed undercover police operations faces lawsuit 7 Aug ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ England and Wales: Growing gap between power and regulation of police AI 5 Aug ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ The commodification of migrant labour in Europe and the Western Balkans 4 Aug View all >> ­ What we're watching We round up of all the important news, events, and resources we've come across between bulletin issues and compile it for our subscribers. This resource is funded solely by our individual donors. If you find it useful, please consider chipping in! Read the latest >> ­ What we're supporting Our work backs campaigns and collective action across Europe, the UK, and beyond. Here are some of the latest ones we are supporting. Petition: EU leaders must cancel the biometric data deal with Trump Run by Ekō, this petition already has over 92,000 signatures and addresses the EU Commission, EU governments and MEPs.   Sign the petition >> Petition: Stop racist and cruel '1 in 1 out' deportations Run by The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, this petition addresses airline CEOs and Directors, who are allowing the use of their planes for deportations. Sign the petition >> ­

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