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EU member states can now collect and share information on so-called “potential terrorists”.
But who is classified as a "potential terrorist?
A "shared understanding" was reached this year without democratic scrutiny. This left broad criteria for deciding who is a "potential terrorist or violent extremist threat".
The definition includes individuals categorised as:
• refugees and asylum seekers
• climate and environmental activists
These diverse groups are recognised as having a "limited" number involved in terrorism and violence, yet they are all subject to surveillance under this broad "shared understanding".
The UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention issued a warning that this could "increase polarisation by wrongly labelling activists as radicals and trivialising terrorism.”
@statewatch we *are* terrorists. We are acting against the state to protect ourselves and our planet. While yes, this is a terrible thing, it is not unexpected given amount of repression both communities are facing. Fortress Europe will protect itself at any cost. Thank you for your tireless work shining a light on it.
As ever with anything like this, the vague language used (ie “potential” for extremism/ radicalisation) completely leaves the door for “mission creep” by authorities in operational delivery!!
As we’ve seen in the UK, the vague language used in several of our recent anti-terror legislation is increasingly being exploited by our security forces to target civic-rights activists and pro-Palestine/ anti-genocide independent journalists!
@statewatch Words have meanings. Government language abuse = government propaganda, which should be outlawed. Governments misapplying the "terrorism" label is a better example of terrorism than protesters inconveniencing people.
@statewatch@mastodon.world
Under the UK's counter terrorism act section 7 I, as a UK national, can be arrested for saying something the Westminster government doesn't like, without cause, due process or no more evidence than suspicion. This is the law evoked resulting in climate protesters getting longer prison sentences for simply talking about demonstrating than the Farage rioters who went toe to toe with the forces of order while attempting to set fire to buildings housing asylum seekers.
