INEX Policy Brief Profiling in the European Union: A high-risk practice Gloria González Fuster, Serge Gutwirth and Erika Ellyne No. 10 / June 2010 ABSTRACT: Profiling through predictive data mining has already found its way onto the security agenda of the European Union (EU). This technique, designed to allow for the automatic flagging of individuals allegedly deserving ‘further attention’, is increasingly being developed, supported, and even implemented (typically, in the name of counter- terrorism) – but with extremely limited publicity. The debate on the risks to fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals posed by profiling has been sidelined, with worrying implications. This paper summarises a number of key points that are relevant for a much-needed discussion of the challenges ahead. Research for this Policy Brief was conducted in the context of Work Package 2 of INEX, a three-year project on converging and conflicting ethical values in the internal/external security continuum in Europe, funded by the Security Programme of DG Enterprise of the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Research Programme. The project is coordinated by PRIO, International Peace Research Institute in Oslo. For more information about the project, please visit: www.inexproject.eu