Comment by wuschel | Hacker News Reader

Comment by wuschel | Hacker News Reader

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Thanks for the link.

Quote: "The type of data about people kept in SIS includes (...)" So it is not a complete list, and the listed entries are just an excerpt:

  - requests for extradition
  - undesirability of presence in particular territory
  - minor age
  - mental illnesses (!!!)
  - missing person status
  - a need for protection
  - requests by a judicial authority
  - and suspected of crime.

The SIS also keeps data referring to lost, stolen and misappropriated

  - firearms
  - identity documents
  - motor vehicles 
  - banknotes
  - (...)

I find the entry re mental illnesses very peculiar. I am curious how the total data structure looks like.

Not sure how it is in the US, but it seems that there is a right of access for each EU citizien to the SIS database[1], e.g. in Germany, citizens have a direct right of access by contacting

Bundeskriminalamt–SIRENE Büro –D –65173 WiesbadenTel.: ++611 551 65 11Fax: ++611 551 65 31E-mail: sirenedeutschland@bka.bund.de

[1] https://www.dvi.gov.lv/lv/wp-content/uploads/datu-aizsardz/p...

Regarding about mental illness entry.

I have ADHD and it is flagged in the system. How do I know? When I tried to exchange my driver license, it was flagged and the “local DMV” forwarded the application to the police department. I then had to present evidence to the police I was capable of driving, thankfully I’ve never been fined and my psychiatrist didn’t have a problem signing a document stating I am capable of driving (even though he himself never measured that skill specifically). At the end of one year long back and forth with the police dept, I got a 2 year provisional DL. Not sure if they will ever grant me a regular DL though.

Thank you for sharing. That makes sense from a regulatory point of view - on the other hand, it is deeply concerning from the point of view of society (especially when it comes to other diseases that may have an influence on driving ability e.g. phychosis).

As always, there is a trade-off in technology application.

They may connect potential medication (stimulants, my bad) with the ability to drive.

Needless to say that this connection (if you even are prescribed such meds) is complete and utter bullshit.

It also doesn't help to de-stigmatize mental illness in society.

Thanks for sharing.

No problem.

I sort of understand their view but the lack of medication or proper diagnose can also be linked to accidents, we just don’t have any data either way.

It isn't used entirely for bad purposes. I know that the most frequent use of medical info in the SIS is that police officers who arrested someone can check if they need a doctor to administer or prescribe medication or if they need to keep something in mind when handling the person. (ie is this person aggressive because of a mental illness or due to being an ass? do they require heart medication, etc.)

This is one of those issues that always stands out to me when people discuss "mental illness" and the government. Usually its in the context of firearms, but clearly thats not always the case. It makes it difficult to trust any system of flagging "mental illness" won't be full of false positives, and limit the liberty of perfectly healthy people. Regardless, thank you for sharing.

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