The Indect projet is not a secret project but a standard Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) research project. The Indect project is financed under the Security Theme of FP7. The legal basis of the Security Theme is Council Decision 2006/971/EC[1]. The Indect project started on the first of January 2009 for a duration of 60 months.

The Grants of the European Union are not given on a yearly basis. The EU GRANT for the Indect project amounts to the sum of EUR 10 906 984.00. The payments to the research consortium are spread over the 60 month period. Detailed information on the FP7 financial guidelines can be found on the website:
ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/financialguide_en.pdf

The main objectives of the Indect project are:

to develop a platform for: the registration and exchange of operational data, acquisition of multimedia content, intelligent processing of all information and automatic detection of threats and recognition of abnormal behaviour or violence,

to develop the prototype of an integrated, network-centric system supporting the operational activities of police officers, providing techniques and tools for observation of various mobile objects,

to develop a new type of search engine combining the direct search of images and video based on watermarked contents, and the storage of metadata in the form of digital watermarks.

Detailed information on the Indect project is available on the project website: http://www.indect-project.eu and on the website of the FP7 research theme: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/security/fp7-project-leaflets_en.html

The Indect project has been subject to an Ethics Review: The ethics review panel has concluded that, following the adoption of the review requirements, the research work is in full compliance with legal rules and obligations to be observed by the EU and by its Member States. Amongst others, the requirements include the establishment of a project Ethics Board that will report to the Commission on potential improper use of research results.

This requires inter alia that Article 8 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights be complied with, which gives everyone the right to the protection of their own personal data. If personal data are processed then this must be done fairly, for specified purposes and on the basis of the consent of the person concerned or some other legitimate basis laid down by law, and must in particular be necessary and proportionate. Furthermore, everyone has the right to access personal data that has been collected, and the right to have it rectified. Compliance with these rules is subject to control by an independent authority.

Moreover, all projects funded unded FP7, including Indect, are bound to comply with strict criteria in the processing of personal data, with Article 7 of Directive 95/46/EC[2] being the appropriate legal basis.

It remains the responsibility of the authorities of the Member States to use these new technologies, taking into account the right of citizens to the protection of personal data. Should Member States intend to use such new technologies within the scope of Union law, they are bound to comply with EU fundamental rights as enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, as well as the the European Convention on Human Rights, and to address the processing of personal data on a proper legal basis.

Citizens are in principle not affected by the Indect project. Should personal data of citizens be used during the project, then — as for all FP7 funded projects — it is bound to comply with strict criteria in the processing of personal data, with Article 7 of Directive 95/46/EC being the appropriate legal basis.

• [1] 2006/971/EC: Council Decision of 19 December 2006 concerning the Specific Programme Cooperation implementing the seventh framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007‑13), OJ L 400, 30.12.2006.
• [2] Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, OJ L 281, 23.11.1995.