In a historic deal, the United States and Norway are set to sign an agreement to share the personal data of each other’s citizens. A similar deal has just been struck between the US and the EU, allowing for everything from personal web surfing information to mobile phone numbers and email addresses to be exchanged between the government bodies.
Leaders within Norway’s government, however, seem to want more assurances that the data will be kept safe and used in the proper way. Speaking to the newspaper Aftenposten, State Secretary Terje Moland Pedersen said “the Norwegian Government wants assurances that the information given will be protected and treated in a secure manner.”
Georg Apenes, who heads the Norwegian Data Inspectorate charged with protecting Norwegian privacy, said the US has an insatiable appetite for information about the private lives of people around the globe. Apenes wants to make sure his agency knows exactly what information is passed over to the Americans.
“When the agreement is signed, the Norwegian public will at least know more about what they are exposed to. The central question still remains whether handing over confidential information about people actually makes the world any safer in the way the Americans claim,” said Apenes.
Please recognize it is the American government, NOT the American people doing this. As an American I too am disgusted by behavior such as this. The government rarely follows the wishes of the people, no matter who we vote for. In the last round of elections the majority voted for candidates we thought would end the illegal wars our country is fighting, yet all they did once they took office was give Bush MORE money than he asked for.
No, it will not make the world any safer! It is just America´s ongoing selfishness and paranoia. They are determined to find terrorists in every country in the world. Norwegian citizens beware, your information will not be kept safe and secure.