UPDATED: Abuse of a Dutch boy's privacy

UPDATE from DutchNews.nl

The nine-year-old boy who survived Wednesday's air crash in Tripoli is to be flown back to the Netherlands on Saturday, Ed Kronenburg, who is in charge of the Dutch crash team in Libya said on Friday.

[...]

In the meantime, the Libyan authorities have taken steps to improve security around the boy to ensure his privacy.

The Telegraaf newspaper caused disbelief on Friday morning by publishing a short phone conversation made with the boy via a doctor's mobile phone. Deputy prime minister André Rouvoet called the paper 'shameless'.

In a statement, the newspaper stressed the reporter had said nothing about the accident or the fact the boy's parents were killed.

The boy's relatives are en route to Tripoli, according to (Dutch) Volkskrant.

_________

That Telegraaf obtained the phone number of the boy's room and was allowed to interview him is appalling enough. But other papers are also showing photos of the boy in his Tripoli hospital room.

He is featured in the lead photo of this series in Parool. He's already got his own website! (In Dutch media, the full names of alleged criminals are never released, but his full name was given.)

Why did hospital staff allow this breach of privacy? (In the USA there are patient privacy policies in place, e.g. hospitals are prohibited to release names of patients who are members of my parish to the clergy.) Why did the Dutch embassy officials allow this violation of a vulnerable child, a minor? (Were these photos taken before or after his relatives arrived in Tripoli? Were they aware of the interview, did they give permission?)

I see now in today's Parool that the Foreign Affairs ministry has stated the telephone interview was "evil."

Telegraaf has issued a statement that the paper never intended to "abuse the patient."

Dutch legal: Security vs. Privacy

NRC/International reports that a Dutch student has gone to court to get a passport without having his fingerprints added to a police data base.

And on the war on drugs, DutchNews.nl writes that a judge has told police to stop scanning car number plates in order to solve drugs crimes.

Big Brother is Watching

Update @ 2:55 pm

Today, from The Independent: Not only Big Brother, but Google is watching and wants to tell you how to run your life.

Previously, this morning I'd read this....
Radio Netherlands Worldwide Press Review -

Big Brother is watching and the Dutch do not seem to care, according to NRC Handelsblad and its sister paper NRC.next. The newspapers express their surprise that in spite of the introduction of all kinds of measures to monitor people's behaviour, no one appears to be bothered.

It's not just about cameras on the streets, police are allowed to stop and search people in certain areas, the authorities are sharing personal data for cross-checking purposes and young offenders could find themselves and their families under increasing scrutiny. There are no civil liberty groups springing to the defence of the rights of citizens.

Most people appear to think: "I've got nothing to hide." They trust the authorities will put things right if mistakes are made. But according to NRC Handelsblad, they are wrong. Parliament often adopts far-reaching legislation hoping that judges will make sure its not carried out to excess. As a result tramps, junkies and Moroccan youths are often the first to feel the consequences.

The Dutch National Ombudsman explains the subdued reaction, "The Dutch are pragmatic and seldom really principled."

Big Brother is watching Americans, too. If you are one of the millions of people using social networking websites such as MySpace and Friendster, be careful what you reveal about yourself.