Session Profile: Varro Vooglaid

The most crucial issue is the violation of the principles of the rule of law by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) through the clandestine establishment of a mass license plate recognition system. The political stance is strongly value-based, emphasizing the necessity of restoring political control over law enforcement structures and demanding accountability for the collection of data without a legal basis. It is stressed that such activity severely infringes upon the inviolability of private life and contravenes the Personal Data Protection Act. The political framework is highly procedural, focusing on the fact that the Riigikogu (Parliament) has never discussed or approved such a system.

The speaker demonstrates thorough knowledge of the technical and legal aspects of mass surveillance systems, citing specific data (over 200 cameras, 20 million images per month) and the history of the system (dating back to the 2009 regulation). Particular emphasis is placed on the violation of the Personal Data Protection Act, and reference is made to the positions of the Chancellor of Justice and the Data Protection Inspectorate. They are also aware of the internal operations of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and the volume of queries made to the database.

The style is sharply critical and demanding, focusing on logical and procedural arguments concerning the rule of law, yet delivered with great emotional intensity. Rhetorical questions and strong judgments (e.g., "total absurdity," "a serious problem") are used repeatedly to underscore the lack of political accountability. The speaker utilizes journalistic sources (an article from Eesti Ekspress) to back up their claims and demands order in parliament.

The speaker is actively involved in parliamentary oversight processes, citing the interpellation submitted on April 23rd and repeated questions posed to PPA representatives during the sessions of the Legal and Constitutional Committees. This indicates a systematic and consistent handling of the issue across various parliamentary formats. The speaker also requests additional time to present their views.

The main targets of criticism are the law enforcement structures (PPA) for their independent actions ("going rogue" or "running amok") and the government (the Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Justice) for their alleged ignorance or avoidance of responsibility. The criticism is intense and procedural, focusing on the fact that the government is attempting to hastily cobble together a legal basis instead of resolving the question of accountability. The speaker finds the ministers' claimed ignorance extremely implausible or notes that it points to a serious failure of political leadership.

Not enough data.

The focus is strictly national, dealing with the operations of the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) and the principles of the rule of law across the entire Republic of Estonia. Mention is made of camera operations "nationwide," along with references to tests conducted during Zelenskyy's visit, which emphasizes the national security context.

There isn't enough information. A potential fine of up to 20 million euros is mentioned for the violation of personal data protection, but this is used to emphasize the seriousness of the violation, not to express an economic policy standpoint.

The primary social issue is the protection of civil liberties and privacy against mass surveillance, stressing the necessity of respecting personal data protection laws. The stance is strongly pro-civil liberties, demanding that data belonging to individuals who have not committed violations must neither be collected nor entered into a database. The question is also being raised regarding the possible secret deployment of a facial recognition camera system.

The legislative focus is on parliamentary oversight (interpellation) and the demand to create a legislative basis for mass surveillance that complies with the rule of law. The speaker is a strong opponent of the current fast-track legislation, which attempts to legalize activities that have already been carried out illegally. It is demanded that the issue of accountability be resolved and a substantive parliamentary debate be held before returning to the use of the system.