Sir, – Billy Hawkes’s comment that the gardaí have significant powers to access data regarding citizens’ use of the Internet is correct, but he is not comparing like with like (Breaking News, June 10th).
The significant difference between Ireland and the US is that in Ireland a strict judicial process is required for the Garda Síochána to legally gain access. A court or ministerial order is required.
In the US there is no judicial oversight. The “Patriot Act” allows US law enforcement agencies to self-regulate. It is well-known that this system has been very widely abused.
US companies in Ireland are obliged to comply with the Patriot Act even if this means that they may be breaking data protection law in Ireland or Europe.
Simple fact: data handled by US companies worldwide can be accessed by US government agencies at their discretion. It is important Irish organisations ensure that their employees are educated and informed with respect to the implications of this because they are significant.
Many of the inmates of Guantánamo found themselves there as a consequence of this and many of them have still not been even tried, let alone found guilty. – Yours, etc,
Dr ROBERT STRUNZ,
University of Limerick,
Limerick.