EU: surveillance and the indifference of MEPs

Alarmed by the EU's latest intrusion into our privacy via INDECT, I wrote to my MEPs as follows:

I would urge you to please put your names to the “Written Declaration on INDECT (intelligent information system supporting observation, searching and detection for security of citizens in urban
environment)”.

The Declaration clearly calls on the Commission to uphold its obligation to "safeguard civil liberties", expresses "concern about function creep, the possible impact on fundamental rights and the danger that researched technologies or collected information are used by public actors or third parties" and demands that the Commission "define a clear and strict mandate for the research goal, the application and the end users of INDECT".

The text of the written declaration can be found here:

http://www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/files/wd-82.2010.doc

I look forward to receiving your assurance that you will back this declaration.

One of my MEPs, Conservative Marina Yannakoudakis, with no hint of wishing to represent her 'constituents' (and why should she?), replied:

Thank you for writing to me regarding INDECT.

INDECT is a revolutionary technology that enables criminals to be tracked in both virtual and real situations. It is especially useful for tracking those looking up child pornography and trafficking in human organs, both of which are areas in which I am heavily involved, in preventing. I will therefore being signing the Written Declaration on INDECT.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me.

This is what passes for representation in the EU by the Conservatives?