Final Word from Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The inherent contraction of European data-security laws has been highlighted by recent events in Germany and the CR. In Germany, hundreds of prominent people risk being prosecuted for tax evasion on the basis of a CD stolen from a Liechtenstein bank and bought for E5m by the German secret police. In the CR, the secret police played a key role in publicizing an illegally taped meeting of two prominent political figures at the Savoy Hotel. In both cases, the secret police apparently gained possession of illegal material and took action on the basis of it. Under normal circumstances, such police behavior would be deemed unacceptable, but this time it's the police who are protected, because release or use of the material is considered to be in the "public good." These cases are clear warnings to anyone who thought "data-protection" laws meant that he or she was the one being protected.[Czech Republic EUR bank secrecy Jiří Weigl Miroslav Šlouf]
Glossary of difficult words
inherent - existing as an essential constituent or characteristic, intrinsic;
data-protection (or security) laws - laws for ensuring that personal information is only shared with those with a legitimate and lawful reason to have access to it;
two political figures - Miroslav Šlouf, an ex-aide to Miloš Zeman, and Chancellor Jiří Weigl;
Savoy Hotel - according to press reports, the hotel was not authorized to make archived copies of activity on its premises; it then passed an archived copy to the police or secret police;
public good - the benefit or well-being of the public.