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Description
The project Full Oversight addresses the problem of broad powers of services responsible for security in Poland, which are not under any real control. Due to this, an unlimited number of people may be subject to surveillance without legitimate grounds and oversight. The low level of awareness and negligible interest on the part of the public means that there is no public pressure on policymakers, who could and should make institutional changes. The project entails a social campaign and advocacy activities centered around the motto: No one will tell you when you are being watched. The campaign will be conducted online, on the radio, on television, and in cinemas, and also via Fundacja Panoptykon channels. Advocacy activities will be conducted at the same time, and will consist of analysis of legal documents, work with whistleblowers and investigative journalists, the drawing up of legal opinions, and meetings to consult with policymakers. As a result of the project, public support for introduction of oversight over the activities of services will increase, and the issue of lack of oversight over services will be more present in public debate.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of the broad powers of the security services and the lack of real control over the security services in Poland.This means that the people of Poland may be subjected to unjustified and uncontrolled surveillance. The problem has worsened in recent years. The Anti-Terrorism Act adopted in 2016 allowed security services to eavesdrop on foreigners and foreign women without a court''s permission, and the Surveillance Act made it easier to access information about Poles'' online activities. The Covid-19 pandemic also contributes to the expansion of the powers of security services, allowing the Police to access data from the Home Quarantine application. Moreover, a scandal erupted over the use of Pegasus spyware in Poland against a female prosecutor, an opposition senator, and others. Little awareness and little interest in the problem among the public resulted in a lack of public pressure on decision-makers.
The project included a public awareness campaign and monitoring and advocacy activities. The campaign ''Eavesdropping as it looks'' reached several million people through radio spots, video spots and other media materials. A petition calling on the authorities to take legislative measures to solve the problem of uncontrolled surveillance was supported by 5,000 people and 20 social organisations. One of the activities was a happening addressed to parliamentarians to draw their attention to the problem of surveillance. In parallel, the Project Promoter conducted monitoring of legislative changes and advocacy activities, as part of which it prepared six opinions and analyses, influencing the shape of adopted legislation, such as the establishment of the Central Office for Combating Cybercrime or the Homeland Defense Act.
As a result of the project, public support for the introduction of control over security services increased. Advocacy efforts truly helped to change or stop legislation that was unfavourable to citizens. In addition, the project had even greater impact due to the revelations in the scandal concerning the use of Pegasus spyware by the security services. Undoubtedly, the demand for control over security services is more present in public debate and is a point of reference for active e citizens and decision-makers, as exemplified by the support of the Project Promoter''s demands by all opposition parties.