More proof that governments are aware of how Scientology abuses its own members

In 2017 Chris Owen wrote a story for the Bunker about the efforts by Hungary’s government to investigate Scientology’s abuse of the information its members are required to hand over.

“The Hungarian Data Protection Commissioner, Dr. Attila Péterfalvi, has issued a scathing 129-page report faulting Scientology on many aspects of the way it handles personal data. Like his counterparts in other European Union states, he is charged with enforcing the data protection regulations that have been enacted by the EU and transposed into the national laws of each of its 28 member states,” Chris wrote.

And now we’ve heard again from Péter Bonyai, who told us recently about a new book by a recent Scientology defector, Diana Dudas. It turns out that Péterfalvi, the crusading Hungarian minister who has tangled repeatedly with Scientology, has written a foreword to Diana’s book.

He made it available to us, and we thought you’d like to see it. We’ve written at length about the way Scientology requires members to turn over private information that another organization would never ask for — their entire sexual histories, for example, if they want to sign a billion-year contract and join the Sea Org. If there’s any organization on earth that is abusing the private data of its clients, it’s the Church of Scientology.

Let us know what you think about Péterfalvi’s statement, and how Scientology’s use of private data might become an issue in the U.S. as well.

FOREWORD

The private Scientology story of Diana Dudas shows what happened to her during her life. In many respects her story confims the reports I myself have come across time and time again during my official investigations into Scientology.

There are few cases that have accompanied me through my career as much as data processing by the Church of Scientology of Hungary. I first learnt about their data processing being in gross breach of privacy and the protection of personal data in my capacity as data protection commissioner, having received complaints from data subjects as early as 2004. The subject matter of the joint investigation conducted with the deputy general ombudsman in 2005 was the equipment that is reminiscent of a lie detector (“the use of the religious object assists the auditor and a preclear in finding the areas of spiritual pain and suffering”) and the practices used in processing the answers given to the questions by people who were asking for help (with special regard to sexual and other perversions), replies on other questionnaires, and related personal and sensitive data. The findings of the investigation gave rise to particular concern. Moreover, the Church even questioned whether I had the authority to investigate their data processing as data protection commissioner. In relation to cases like this, one always has to bear in mind that the freedom of religion is a fundamental constitutional right in Hungary, which includes the free and autonomous operation of churches. Nevertheless, the fundamental constitutional right to the protection of personal data must be respected by every data controller, including religious organizations, and the supervisory authority designated in the constitution has the right, as well as the obligation, to monitor this.

In 2006, the Church launched a public data request-lawsuit against me and requested the disclosure of the expert opinion on the e-meter issued by the Criminal Department of the National Office of Investigation. In the absence of legal grounds, the court rejected the petition; nevertheless, we handed over the expert opinion to the representative of the Church as it had become obvious that the Church was unwilling to accept the recommendations of the data protection commissioner with reference to this litigation.

As president of the Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, I continued to receive severe and serious complaints from citizens affected by this issue, so in 2016 I launched an investigation to clarify how the data obtained from believers, from those using the various services provided by the Church, and from employees was processed. This time, we used the means and methods of the Authority, including onsite inspection and the seizure of documents, folders and IT equipment, to explore what type of personal or sensitive data the data subjects were required to provide (about themselves or even others), and under what circumstances, as well as what would happen to this data subsequently. We came across some incredible cases… Our procedures concluded with decisions imposing data protection fines in two cases, one of which was to the amount of 20 million HUF (which was the maximum amount able to be imposed at the time), because data processing by the Church severely infringed personal data protection rights (in particular, the obligation to provide information in advance, the principle of processing for a specific purpose, the principle of fair data processing, the requirement for data security; they even carried out data processing without any legal basis; moreover, there were data subjects who were minors and they even transferred data abroad).

The clinical psychology expert assigned to the case unambiguously established that the methods applied in the course of “auditing” (said by the Church to be the exploration of spiritual problems and their treatment, as well as personality development) largely induced altered consciousness and so could practically be regarded as hypnotherapy, while the other methods used resulted in the narrowing of consciousness and the social subservience of the patient. There was no professional medical control over their procedures, despite them often being related to diseases and classed as therapy, thus they failed to comply with the professional expectations and requirements of health care in force at any single point.

The Church then attacked these decisions in the court, but the Budapest Tribunal regarded the legal arguments of the Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information as correct and well-founded. The Church of Scientology is an organisation with headquarters and roots in the U.S., but – as far as I know – one of its objectives is worldwide expansion. I would like to note here that privacy and data protection rights are enforced with a different approach in the U.S. and are managed according to different principles as here in Europe. Our investigations also covered, although not in depth, the problems of transferring personal data abroad, which have stringent and accountable rules in the countries of the European Union.

Summarising the aforementioned, I strongly support the idea of initiating the broadest possible exchange of ideas and experiences about the activities of the Church – from me, strictly in the field of personal data processing – in Hungary as well as in Europe. However, discussion requires resources, including “first-hand experiences” both in Hungarian and in foreign languages. That is why I welcome the fact that the book by Diána Dudás has also been published in English, because this undeniably subjective report provides an occasion for dialogue, for “lifting the veils,” for asking questions and giving answers, which will be useful and constructive for all participants and data subjects.

Budapest, July 10, 2020

Dr. Attila Péterfalvi
President,
Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information

 
——————–

Jon Atack: Leaving TM and Scientology behind

 
——————–

Source Code

“Take any given action. Let’s take kissing a girl, just take that as an action. I don’t know whether you’re familiar with this action or not, but — kissing a girl. All right. Now, let’s take a look at the various societies and their various regards of it. And you find out it’d be very interesting. The Marriage Counselors Society of Los Angeles. Of course, this is a very laudable action and therefore you are a very evil man if you don’t kiss a girl. If you’re not the type of man who kisses girls, then you’re an evil man. That’s according to the mores of the marriage counselors. Because of course the more girls that get kissed, the more business they have. Elementary. Elementary. All right. Now, let’s take the Sex Is Evil Society of New York City. The Sex Is Evil Society. All right. Every time you kiss a girl, you see, you are evil. So you’re an evil man because you kiss a girl. Now, you go down to Hollywood, for instance, and kiss a girl, they think you’re crazy. I didn’t mean it as a crack, and so forth. I didn’t mean it as a crack, a derogatory. In the first place, it couldn’t be derogatory because you can always explain cracks about Hollywood on the same basis, ‘It isn’t critical — it isn’t a critical thought because it’s true!’ You hear that?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 16, 1962

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“The factor of income-outgo is that one must have more income than outgo for an org to live at all. This is the primary thing that EOs and staffs overlook. It is the only thing really that can wipe out an org. ASHO in November ran at less income than outgo (loss of $3,000) which is why there is an effort to combine ASHO and AOLA. In management this factor — the income-outgo ratio — is just something that can’t be ignored as it can destroy an org and is, by experience, the only thing which can. It is also the hardest thing to get across to ECs. One has to increase income to exceed outgo and also decrease outgo so it is less than income — both actions are usually necessary. I doubt there is a more important management datum than this. Or one which is more consistently ignored in orgs.” — The Commodore, January 16, 1970

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“‘KUCDEIOF: know, unknow, curious, desire, enforce, inhibit, none of it, false.’ KUCDEIOF may be and is currently being applied in reverse to install false and substituted stable data and a false and substituted operating basis. The 1st step is to persuade the person by foul means or fair to unknow what they actually know to be true, for example to persuade the person to suspend disbelief, a standard pyramid sales technique. Then it’s generate curiosity and desire followed swiftly by enforce and inhibit. Then the lollipop is taken away at absence of and none of it is applied to ensure a total rejection of the original truth. Finally the false and substituted stable datum and operating basis is installed. At this point whatever it is that the person originally knew to be true and was persuaded to unknow is considered false. In actuality an inversion, reversal, denial and substitution of truth is what takes place. And how on earth do we end up in such a mess in the first place? By unknowing what we actually know to be true.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2000: The Baltimore Sun published an article on the opening of the Lisa McPherson Trust. “It’s a modest, two-story office building in a sleepy downtown. But for Bob Minton, it is the field office for nothing less than a war for the heart and soul of this quiet coastal city. ‘We’re going to liberate Clearwater,’ Minton declares. Whether Clearwater needs liberating is open to debate. But after about 25 years of serving, often uneasily, as one of the Church of Scientology’s most important bases in the country, Clearwater finds itself once again drawn into a battle over the controversial group. Minton, 53, is a retired millionaire from New England who has protested and funded lawsuits against the church, which he says is a cult that has destroyed members’ lives and trampled on the civil rights of its opponents. Early this month, he brought his fight to the heart of the church’s Clearwater operations by opening a center here to provide information on the group and provide ‘exit counseling’ for members who want to leave.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Steve Allen and Johnny Carson hated Scientology.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 20.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.

Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.

 
——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Lawsuit filed in death of man shot by police at Scientology’s Inglewood ‘Ideal Org’
[TWO years ago] Another elderly victim gets soaked by Scientology, is talking to law enforcement
[THREE years ago] Leah Remini and Mike Rinder cite Scientology interrogations as they support Paul Haggis
[FOUR years ago] What Scientology is telling its members: Things have never been better!
[FIVE years ago] Atack: What I meant when I said Scientologists suffer from arrogance when they leave
[SEVEN years ago] Judge Waldrip grants Monique Rathbun’s discovery request, snubbing Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] TONIGHT: Nancy Many’s Story of Scientology Spying and Interrogation on ID at 10 PM
[NINE years ago] Did You See a Scientology Ad This Weekend?
[TWELVE years ago] Wise Beard Man to Anonymous: Don’t be a Dope

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on January 16, 2021 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele