Ben Hayes

Ben Hayes

TNI fellow working for the civil liberties watchdog Statewatch

Ben Hayes is a TNI fellow who has worked for the civil liberties organisation Statewatch since 1996, specialising in international and national security and policing policies. Ben also works as an independent researcher and consultant for organisations including the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights, Cordaid, the Heinrich Boll Foundation, the European Parliament and European Commission.

Ben's research has two main focuses: (i) the impact of counter-terrorism, surveillance and border control policies on democracy, human rights, civil society and international development, (ii) the influence and activities of the defence and security industries.

Ben has a PhD from Magee College (Derry/Londonderry) awarded by the University of Ulster in 2008. He is currently working on a book on climate change and international security for TNI.

Areas of expertise:

European Union militarism and security policies, civil liberties, anti-terrorism legislation, climate security

Contact

Phone: +44 (0)20 8802 1882
Email: ben AT statewatch dot org
Twitter: drbenhayes

English

Selected publications

NeoConOpticon
Counter-terrorism, ‘policy laundering’ and the FATF
Borderline
Blacklisted
Arming Big Brother

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Recent content by Ben Hayes

After PRISM: on Power, Trust and Accountability

June 2013
Corporate Planet:
Multinational corporations who dominate large parts of the internet have provided USA’s National Security Agency with massive amounts of their users’ intimately personal data. This is simply unacceptable in any democracy worthy of the name.

How international rules on countering the financing of terrorism impact civil society

May 2013
Civil liberties: , Terrorism:
Making banks and non-profits liable for the acts and social networks of their customers and beneficiaries while holding charities and CSOs responsible for the ‘extremist’ views and actions of their associates stifles freedom of association and expression and promotes self-censorship.

How the EU subsidises Israel’s military-industrial complex

March 2013
The EU is providing generous R&D (research and development) subsidies to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the state-owned manufacturer of Israeli ‘drones’ and other ‘battlefield solutions’. Some of the grants are for IAI to adapt its killer robots for use within the EU.     

After Doha: rejecting dystopia by default

December 2012
Environmental Justice: , Peace & Security:
We need to challenge the security industries and military that are thriving on the fear and insecurity created by our governments' inaction on climate change.

Does the European Union deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?

October 2012
Civil liberties: , European security: , Regional conflicts:
Giving the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU for maintaining peace is like crediting Alexander Graham Bell for the i-phone. Since its formation in 1993, the EU has increasingly shunned peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights. 

CLEAN IT: the secret EU surveillance plan that wasn’t

October 2012
Civil liberties: , European security: , Terrorism:
There are elements in Europe who would dearly like to see the CLEAN IT wish list put into practice, but we must distinguish between transnational talking shops, EU working groups and draft EU policy.
India-Bangladesh border

The Other Burma

October 2012
Civil liberties: , Regional conflicts:
Northeast India's strategic location between India, China and southeast Asia has led to a recent boom in resource extraction and investment by multinational corporations, but the world continues to remain largely silent on the human rights abuses that continue to be perpetrated by the Indian military. 

Why the UK shouldn’t celebrate extraditions

September 2012
Civil liberties: , Terrorism:
The media and government celebration over the decision of the European Court of Human Rights to allow the extradition of five individuals accused of terrorist offences from Britain to the USA obscures one of the most undemocratic, one-sided and duplicitous treaties that our political masters have ever signed.
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Borderline

July 2012
The EU’s new 'smart borders' regime infringes fundamental rights, undermines privacy while creating profits for Europe’s defence contractors.
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Counter-terrorism, ‘policy laundering’ and the FATF

March 2012
A lack of democratic control, oversight and accountability of the FATF has allowed for regulations that circumvent concerns about human rights, proportionality and effectiveness.