Gloria González Fuster

Key developments

• 🇫🇷 On 21 March 1974, French newspaper Le Monde publishes ‘”Safari” ou la chasse aux Français’, an article by Philippe Boucher alerting of plans for a nationwide database. The article triggers numerous reactions, which will eventually lead to the adoption of a law on ‘computers & freedoms’ (informatique et libértés).
• 🇺🇸 In the United States, the 1974 Privacy Act is enacted on 31 December. See the Legislative history of the Privacy Act of 1974, S. 3418 (Public Law 93-579) source book on privacy.
• The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopts Resolution (74) 29 on the Protection of the Privacy of Individuals vis-à-vis Electronic Data Banks in the Public Sector.

Also this year

• IBM publishes in Newsweek an ad endorsing ‘Four principles of privacy’.
• 🇩🇪 The Land of Rheinland Pfalz follows the example of the Land of Hesse and adopts a data protection act.
• 🇺🇸 Privacy: The collection, use, and computerization of personal data, Joint hearings before the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Privacy and Information Systems of the Committee on Government Operations and the Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-third Congress, second session … June 18, 19, and 20, 1974 v.13 (pt. 1, pt. 2).
• 🇺🇸 From 4 to 5 March 1974 takes place in Washington, D.C. a conference on ‘Approaches to privacy and security in computer systems‘, held at the National Bureau of Standard. From 15 to 17 December 1874 takes place, also in Washington DC, the seminar ‘Privacy‘.
• 🇪🇺 Numerous developments at the European Parliament:
  • A 13 February 1974 letter of President of the European Parliament invites the Legal Affairs Committee to deliver an Opinion for the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on the 1973 Communication concerning the Commission’s Policy on Data Processing, and concretely its paragraph 39. The Legal Affairs Committee appoints Lord Mansfield as draftsman on 20 February 1974.
  • Oral question N. 193/73, with debate, on protecting the privacy of the Community’s citizens (sitting of 13 March 1974).
  • Cousté, Pierre-Bernard, Report drawn up on behalf of the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs on the Communication from the Commission of the European Communities to the Council on a Community Policy on Data-Processing. EP Working Document, Document 1974-1975 153/74, 2 July 1974.
• From 24 to 26 June 1974 takes place the OECD Seminar ‘Policy issues in data protection and privacy: Concepts and perspectives’, under the responsibility of the Data Bank Panel and featuring Hondius (as rapporteur), Westin, Rodotà, Simitis, Ware, Miller, Braibant, Freese & many more.
• A working group on ‘The Numbered Citizen’ convenes at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research at Bielefeld University from 22 to 24 November 1974.

Watch

• 📺 30 January 1974: State of the Union Address by US President Nixon, who talked about ‘Modern information systems, data banks, credit records, mailing list abuses, electronic snooping, the collection of personal data for one purpose that may be used for another’ & privacy safeguards.

• 📺 Michel Chevalet sur l’interconnexion des fichiers et les enjeux pour les libertés (TV news item), 18 April 1974. Available here (CNIL / INRA).

Literature

• Baudot, J. et al (1974), Personal records : procedures, practices, and problems: A study for the Privacy and Computers Task Force, Canada, Department of Communication.
• Dammann, U., M. Karhausen, P. Müller and W. Steinmüller (1974), Datenbanken und Datenschutz, Herder & Herder.
• Davis, Ruth M. (1974), ‘Privacy and Security in Data Systems’, Computers and People, March, 23(3), 20-27.
• Davis, Ruth M. (1974), ‘Computers and the International Balance of Power’, Computers and People, November, 23(11), 15-21.
• Ervin Jr., Sam J. (1974), ‘The Computer vs. our Constitution‘, Barrister 14.
• Forstmoser, Peter (1974), ‘Datenbanken und Persönlichkeitsschutz‘, SJZ 70 (1974) 217 ff.
• Gotlieb, Allan, Charles Dalfen and Kenneth Katz (1974), ‘The Transborder Transfer of Information by Communications and Computer Systems: Issues and Approaches to Guiding Principles‘, American Journal of International Law 68(2), 227-257.
• Lenk, Klaus (1974), ‘Datenschutz, Privatsphäre, Informationspolitik [Review of Datenbanken und Datenschutz, by U. Dammann, M. Karhausen, P. Müller, & W. Steinmüller]‘, Leviathan 2(4), 597–600.
• Martin, Margaret E (1974), ‘Statistical legislation and confidentiality issues‘, International Statistical Review/Revue Internationale de Statistique, 265-281.
• Messadié, Gérald (1974), La fin de la vie privée, Calmann Lévy.
• Privacy en rechten van de mens: Handelingen van het Derde Internationaal Colloquium over het Europees Verdrag tot Bescherming van de Rechten van de Mens (1974), ACCO.
• Renninger, Clark R. (ed.) (1974), Approaches to privacy and security in computer systems : Proceedings of a conference held at the National Bureau of Standards, March 4-5, 1974.
• Sutton, Robert (1974), ‘The Impact of a National Data Center On Individual Privacy‘, Journal of Communication Inquiry 1.1, 45-55.
• Turn, Rein (1974), Privacy and Security in Personal Information Databank Systems, National Science Foundation.
• Velu, Jacques (1974), Le droit au respect de la vie privée, Presses universitaires de Namur.

In the media

• Denenberg, R. V. (1974), ‘Privacy: Wanted But Vague. The Constitution Doesn’t Spell Out the Right’, The New York Times, 3 February 1974.
• ‘U.N. warning on computers‘, Press, CXIV, 33468, 25 February 1974, 13.
• ‘Invasions of Privacy Decried‘, The New York Times, 5 May 1974.
• Wicker, Tom, ‘Checking Big Brother: II‘, The New York Times, 19 May 1974.
• Holbrooke, Ricard, ‘The rights and duties of the governed and the governing‘, The New York Times, 16 June 1974.

• Bloor, Judith, ‘Data bank control begins in Sweden’, New Scientist, 19 September 1974, 718.
• ‘Big brother’ computer reality in 1978‘, Press, CXIV, 33705, 30 November 1974, 1.
• ‘Jurists urge watch on data bank‘, Press, CXIV, 33714, 11 December 1974, 37.

Films

• 🎬 The Conversation (1974), Francis Ford Coppola.

Music

• 🎵 Rolling Stones ‘Fingerprint file’ (It’s only rock ‘n roll, Rolling Stones Records, 1974), featuring the lyrics: ‘And there’s some little jerk in the FBI, Keepin’ papers on me six feet high, It gets me down, it gets me down, it gets me down’.

In memoriam

• Laura ‘Lau’ Carola Mazirel (29 November 1907 – 20 November 1974): lawyer and rights defender.

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