Privacy by design and anonymisation techniques in action: Case study of Match technology

Privacy by Design is now enjoying widespread acceptance. The EU has recently expressly included it as one of the key principles in the revised data protection legal framework. But how does Privacy by design and data anonymisation work in practise? In this article the authors address this question from a practical point of view by analysing a case study on EU Financial Intelligence Units (“FIUs”) using the Ma³tch technology as additional feature to the existing exchange of information via FIU.NET decentralised computer network. They present, analyse, and evaluate Ma³tch technology from the perspective of personal data protection. The authors conclude that Ma³tch technology can be seen as a valuable example of Privacy by Design. It achieves data anonymisation and enhances data minimisation and data security, which are the fundamental elements of Privacy by Design. Therefore, it may not only improve the exchange of information among FIUs and allow for the data processing to be in line with applicable data protection requirements, but it may also substantially contribute to the protection of privacy of related data subjects. At the same time, the case study clearly shows that Privacy by Design needs to be supported and complemented by appropriate organisational and technical procedures to assure that the technology solutions devised to protect privacy would in fact do so.     

Can computer forensic tools be trusted in digital investigations?

This paper investigates whether computer forensic tools (CFTs) can extract complete and credible digital evidence from digital crime scenes in the presence of file system anti-forensic (AF) attacks. The study uses a well-established six stage forensic tool testing methodology based on black-box testing principles to carry out experiments that evaluate four leading CFTs for their potential to combat eleven different file system AF attacks. Results suggest that only a few AF attacks are identified by all the evaluated CFTs, while as most of the attacks considered by the study go unnoticed. These AF attacks exploit basic file system features, can be executed using simple tools, and even attack CFTs to accomplish their task. These results imply that evidences collected by CFTs in digital investigations are not complete and credible in the presence of AF attacks. The study suggests that practitioners and academicians should not absolutely rely on CFTs for evidence extraction from a digital crime scene, highlights the implications of doing so, and makes many recommendations in this regard. The study also points towards immediate and aggressive research efforts that are required in the area of computer forensics to address the pitfalls of CFTs.     

Validation of the Short Amplicon Multiplex Q8 Including the German DNA Database Systems*

Abstract: We have developed a concept to enable the analyzing of degraded stains with limited DNA template quantity. Therefore we have constructed a short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex including the German DNA database systems (Q8). The amplicon lengths are smaller than 280 bp. For the validation of Q8 over 50 degraded samples were investigated. Amplifications were performed with “low copy number” PCR, the number of PCR cycles was increased to 33 and the reaction volume was decreased to 12.5 μL. Compared with the MPX2 and Nonaplex kit, the average success rate was increased using the Q8 kit by approximately 20% and 30%, respectively. The efficiency of a sensitive STR multiplex with reduced amplicon lengths was confirmed in comparing the success rates of Q8 for typing degraded samples and samples with limited amount of DNA template while partial profiles were observed with the majority of the samples using commercially available kits.     

Niederlassungsbewilligungen aus humanitären Gründen: Antragsrecht des betroffenen Einzelnen verfassungsrechtlich erforderlich

§11 Abs3 NAG schafftkeine M?glichkeit der Antragstellung auf Erteilung eines humanit?ren Aufenthaltstitels. Auf Grund der Art 8 iVm 13 MRK und aus rechtsstaatlichen Erw?gungen muss neben einer Erteilung von Amts wegen auch ein Antragsrecht des in seinen subjektiven Rechten Betroffenen auf Erteilung eines humanit?ren Aufenthaltstitels vorgesehen sein.     

Unzulässigkeit des Rechtswegs für Klage einer Gemeinde gegen Postamtsauflösung

Informationen und Stellungnahmen der Gemeinden zu einer beabsichtigten Schlie?ung von Post?mtern sind in § 4 Abs 5 PostG 1997 idF nach der Novelle 2006 in die Beurteilung des nach dieser Bestimmung zu erstellenden Universaldienstkonzeptes eingebettet. Diese Beurteilung kommt nunmehr dem BMVIT zu. In diesem Rahmen hat das BMVIT auch die M?glichkeit, die Schlie?ung einzelner Gesch?ftsstellen mit Bescheid zu untersagen. Dabei sind die gesetzlich festgelegten Kriterien anzuwenden. Damit ist klargestellt, dass die geltend gemachten Rechtspositionen im Rahmen eines Verwaltungsverfahrens einer überprüfung zugeführt werden k?nnen. Die im Rahmen des Prüfungsverfahrens nach § 4 Abs 5 PostG 1997 den Gemeinden einger?umten Rechte k?nnen nun aber nicht mehr als auf Gleichbehandlung beruhende privatrechtliche Rechtsbeziehungen zwischen beliebigen Rechtssubjekten angesehen werden, über die im Zweifel von den ordentlichen Gerichten zu entscheiden w?re. Für eine auf die genannten Bestimmungen gestützte Klage ist daher der Rechtsweg unzul?ssig.     

Statthaftigkeit der ao Revision bei Teilurteilen über Mietzinsrückst?nde

§ 502 Abs 3 ZPO gilt nicht für unter § 49 Abs 2 Z 5 JN fallende Streitigkeiten, wenn dabei über eine Kündigung, eine R?umung oder über das Bestehen oder Nichtbestehen des Vertrages entschieden wird. Unter diese Ausnahme fallen auch gleichzeitige Entscheidungen über andere Ansprüche, wie etwa auf Zahlung rückst?ndiger Mietzinse, weil diese anderen Fragen mit der Aufl?sung des Bestandvertrages meist so eng zusammenh?ngen, dass ein getrenntes Schicksal in der Anfechtbarkeit unbefriedigend w?re (8 Ob 176/01t mwN = MietSlg 53.760 ; RIS-Justiz RS0042922).     

Entgeltlicher Verzicht auf eine Mietoption als einkommensteuerpflichtige sonstige Leistung

Durch den Verzicht auf die Ausübung einer nicht im Rahmen einer betrieblichen T?tigkeit erworbenen Mietoption werden steuerpflichtige sonstige Einkünfte erzielt, wenn der Verzicht auf die Optionsausübung zu keiner Minderung des Verm?gens des Optionsberechtigten führt, also keine im Privatverm?gen des Berechtigten eingetretene Verm?gensminderung ausgeglichen wird.     

Caspase3和iNOS在人挫伤脑组织中的时序性表达

目的研究人脑挫伤后不同时间半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3（caspase3）和诱导型一氧化氮合酶（inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS）表达的变化,为法医实践中脑损伤时间的推断提供依据。方法选择30例因颅脑损伤死亡案例为损伤组,5例非颅脑损伤急死的案例为对照组,应用免疫组织化学和图像分析技术,分别于死亡后2h、4～8h、10～14h、1～2d、3～5d及8～11d检测脑组织标本中caspase3和iNOS的变化规律。结果经统计学分析：（1）caspase3阳性细胞表达在伤后2h以内组开始升高,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,1～2d组表达强度增高,3～5d组仍见高表达（P〈0.05）,以后逐渐下降。（2）iNOS阳性细胞表达在2h以内组与对照组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,伤后4～8h开始升高（P〈0.05）,1～2d组表达强度最高,以后逐渐下降,伤后8～11d仍有弱表达（P〈0.05）。结论caspase3和iNOS的表达可能成为实际检案中脑损伤时间推断的有效依据。     

Immunohistochemical detection of CCR2 and CX3CR1 in sepsis-induced lung injury

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disease with high mortality. In the present study, we immunohistochemically examined CCR2 and CX3CR1 expression in sepsis-induced lung injury, and discussed its availability for the postmortem diagnosis of sepsis. Lung samples were obtained from different lung lobes of nine sepsis and eight control cases with postmortem intervals between 12 and 48 h. Immunohistochemically, mononuclear cells recruited into the lungs expressed CCR2 and CX3CR1 in both sepsis and non-septic groups. In double-color immunofluorescence analysis, CCR2- or CX3CR1-positive cells could be identified as CD68-positive macrophages. Moreover, most of CD68-positive macrophages expressed both CCR2 and CX3CR1. Morphometrically, the average of CCR2- and CX3CR1-positive macrophages was significantly increased in sepsis group, compared with control group (sepsis vs. control: 41.6 ± 1.3% vs. 8.0 ± 0.4% in CCR2; 36.2 ± 1.3% vs. 9.2 ± 0.4% in CX3CR1). These observations implied that CCR2- or CX3CR1-positive macrophages were recruited into the lungs under several pathological conditions. In particular, their recruitment might be more evident in sepsis. Moreover, from the forensic aspects, immunohistochemical detection of CCR2 and CX3CR1 expression in the lungs can be considered as valuable diagnostic tools for the postmortem diagnosis of sepsis.     

A report of the 2002–2008 paternity testing workshops of the English speaking working group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics

The English Speaking Working Group (ESWG) of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) offers an annual Paternity Testing Workshop open to all members of the group. Blood samples, a questionnaire and a paper challenge are sent to the participants. Here, we present the results of the 2002–2008 Paternity Testing Workshops with the objective to evaluate the uniformity of DNA-profiling and conclusions of the participating laboratories as well as to clarify tendencies in typing strategies and biostatistical evaluations of the laboratories. The numbers of participating laboratories increased from 46 in 2002 to 68 in 2008. The results showed an increasing degree of concordance concerning methods and DNA systems used and a high degree of uniformity in typing results with discrepancies in 0.1 and 0.3 % of all submitted PCR-based results. The paper challenges showed uniformity in the calculation of the weight of evidence for simple cases with straight-forward genetic constellations. However, a high degree of variation existed in complex scenarios with rare genetic constellations such as genetic inconsistencies/possible silent alleles, rare alleles and haplotypes.