The United States authorities are proposing a new condition for Norwegian passport holders to travel to the US visa-free. The US wants access to Norway’s police databases in exchange for visa-free travel. This means that the US will be able to fully check Norwegian police databases for data on people who travel to the US with only an Electronic System Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
In return, Norwegian authorities will have access to the US Department of Homeland Security’s databases, which contain 1.1 billion records about 270 million people. By searching in Norwegian and other countries’ registers, the US will be able to investigate people more thoroughly and refuse entry to unwanted visitors.
However, the Norwegian Police Directorate is still sceptical of the arrangement, as they claim it would require more automated searches, making it more challenging.
Additionally, the US has reportedly approached 41 countries under its visa-free entry system for similar access to their databases. This proposal has not been well-received in the EU, sparking anger amongst MEPs who believe in guarding privacy. German MEP Patrick Breyer, a digital rights activist, has insisted that the EU reject the US request, even at the cost of losing visa-free travel to the US.
Breyer also claimed that giving such power to the US over EU citizens’ data was risky, as the US “lacks adequate data and fundamental rights protection”, warning of potential consequences. This ongoing debate has erupted into a diplomatic standoff between the US and the EU.
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