In Part 1, I explained the technical details of the system and how geography condemns Moldovans to data over collection. Now, in this second installment, I will cover two other aspects: privacy risks throughout the data lifecycle, and practical alternatives and solutions.

Aspect 1: Privacy Risks in the Data Lifecycle – From Breaches to Bias

The EES privacy problems don't stop at collection; they span the entire data journey, hitting Moldovans the hardest due to frequent crossings.

First, centralized storage attracts hackers like a magnet. EU-LISA has protections, but history tells a different story: in 2019, the US lost 100,000 faces in a hack; in 2015, 5.6 million fingerprints were stolen from EU-LISA. For Moldovans who cross the border often, a leak means your life exposed: fraud, espionage, stalking, or online scams.

Second, "function creep" (system purpose expansion) allows police to access data for serious crimes (Article 41), but only with judicial approval. Links to other systems (Visa Information System (VIS), Schengen Information System (SIS)) enable mass searches, as warned by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). Moldova's position—next to Ukraine and with tensions in Transnistria—makes travel profiles valuable for intelligence services, and citizens have no power to protest.

Third, facial recognition discriminates: MIT studies show it errs 34% more on dark skin or women. The result? Wrongful denials at customs, endless queues, extra checks. A stupid error can mean: border ban, data kept 5 years instead of 3, or even a lifetime Schengen ban.

Fourth, GDPR rights exist, but in practice, you can't enforce them. Want to delete your data? You must appeal through the court system in Romania or another EU country—without a lawyer, without money. You can't do it in Chisinau courts. The result? Moldovan citizens are stuck—they have rights on paper, but zero real application.

These vectors turn routine trips into a minefield of risks, scaled by border proximity.

Aspect 2: Structural Implications – Inequality Baked into the System, But Fixable

EES represents inequality coded into the system—just as expert Ruha Benjamin says: technology that hides discrimination. GDPR clearly requires "MINIMUM data only," but Moldova—a 2022 EU candidate with a perfect visa record—gets MAXIMUM surveillance. Why? Because there are no special rules for allies like us, even though Romania is a neighboring Schengen country!

This injustice hits hardest based on where you live. Western Moldovans, near Romania, cross daily and build complete profiles—non-stop surveillance. Those in the east who stay home? Totally invisible. And Moldovans with Romanian passports? Complete freedom, no trace at all. The same happens worldwide: Mexicans near the US, Turks near the EU—the closer you are to the border, the more you suffer from biometrics collection.

From 2026, ETIAS will make everything worse: you must complete online applications before travel, pay a 7-euro fee, and police check your background.

But we have technical solutions ready to implement right now. Instead of centralized storage, data can be distributed among EU countries—each keeps biometrics from its local border. This avoids cyber disasters. And with "zero-knowledge proofs" technology, the system checks overstays without storing anything—pure tech!

In conclusion, EES tests the EU's true values: security or privacy? With smart technology and political pressure, borders can be secure without spying.