About Privacy International 07/12/2007

Privacy International (PI) is a human rights group formed in 1990 as a watchdog on surveillance and privacy invasions by governments and corporations. PI is based in London, England, and has an office in Washington, D.C. We have campaigned across the world to protect people against intrusion by governments and corporations that seek to erode this fragile right. We believe that privacy forms part of the bedrock of freedoms, and our goal has always been to use every means to preserve it. For more information please click here. To donate to PI please click here. Follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook group.

Top News

Parliamentary Group looking at UK Government communications surveillance plans 29/06/2009
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Privacy, of which PI is the Secretariat, is meeting on July 1st to review the Government's plans for a 'Interception Modernisation Programme'.

PI and Free Expression Groups Call for Limits on Surveillance 08/06/2009
Thirty media organisations from the around the world have joined with PI in calling on governments to limit the use of invasive surveillance techniques, to not adopt data retention laws, and to review their existing laws which allow for wiretapping and access to communications data to ensure that they respect privacy and freedom of expression rights.

PI hosts workshop in Bangkok on Privacy in Asia 28/05/2009
Privacy International ran a three-day workshop in Bangkok from May 22 to May 24 with partners from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand to work on how to advance privacy protections in their countries and in the region.

Key PI Resources

Leading surveillance societies in the EU and the World 2007 28/12/2007

Privacy International's rankings of privacy protection around the world.

Overview of Privacy 17/12/2007
Privacy is a fundamental human right. It underpins human dignity and other values such as freedom of association and freedom of speech. It has become one of the most important human rights of the modern age. Here we review this essential human right.

News and Developments

PI advises Kyrgyzstan on internet privacy and surveillance 25/02/2009
At the request of the Civil Initiative on Internet Policy, a Kyrgyz public foundation, Privacy International participated in an international conference on Internet and Law in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Legal and Policy Developments

Indian High Court overrules homosexuality ban on privacy grounds 02/07/2009
The High Court in Delhi has ruled in favour of a challenge of the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), which criminally penalizes what is described as "unnatural offences", to the extent the said provision criminalises consensual sexual acts between adults in private.

European Court Rules DNA Retention Illegal 04/12/2008
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights has unanimously ruled that the UK law that allows the permanent retention of DNA profiles and samples violates Article 8 (protection of private life) of the European Convention on Human Rights as being disproportionate. It observed that the protection afforded by Article 8 of the Convention would be unacceptably weakened if the use of modern scientific techniques in the criminal-justice system were allowed at any cost and without carefully balancing the potential benefits of the extensive use of such techniques against important private-life interests. Privacy International intervened in the case.

PI Reports

Update on APEC process since February 2009 meeting in Singapore 01/03/2009
Privacy International participated in the APEC data privacy subgroup meeting in Singapore in February 2009. This report outlines the results of the meeting.

PI Report on APEC Privacy issues from 2008 to 2009 20/02/2009
As APEC moves to establish its privacy rules, Privacy International is providing this update on how the situation was evolved between the Lima meeting in 2008. This report was tabled at the APEC Data Privacy Subgroup meeting in Singapore in February 2009.

Privacy international identifies major security flaw in Google’s global phone tracking system 05/02/2009
One day after the global launch of Google’s “Latitude” phone tracking system, Privacy International has identified what appears to be a fundamental design problem that could substantially endanger user privacy.

PI Black Zone Report on Data Sharing - Sharing the Misery 25/01/2009
Of the hundreds of issues engaged each year by Privacy International, a small handful stand out because of the fundamental risk they pose to the foundations of privacy protection. The UK government’s proposal to legislate for wide scale sharing of personal data is one such instance.

PI Releases its annual report for 2008 21/12/2008
The 2008 Annual report reviews PI's activities and goals for the past year, and discusses our sources of funding, and potential projects for the new year. In 2008 our core activities can be grouped into three domains: Advancing and Protecting Privacy and Transparency Rules, Engaging with International Institutions and Processes, and Monitoring Anti-Terrorism Policies and other forms of Exceptional Surveillance.

PI authors report on Counter-Terrorism and Freedom of the Media 25/11/2008
A new report conducted by Privacy International for the Council of Europe Media and Information Society Division reveals effects of new counter-terrorism laws on media and free expression rights in European countries. The report “Speaking of Terror” examines how the “war on terror” has affected access to information, the growth of incitement, glorification and “extremism” restrictions on speech, blocking of internet sites, increased surveillance of journalists and limits on protection of journalists’ sources.

Maps

Global Freedom of Information Map 26/06/2009 Map of 140+ countries that have adopted or are in the process of adopting comprehensive freedom of information acts. (Last updated June 2009)

Press Releases

PI Joins Free Expression Network 26/06/2009 Privacy International joined the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) at the general meeting in Olso, Norway in June 2009. The network consists of 88 free expression groups from around the world.

Online Behavioural Targeted Advertising – Privacy International’s position 20/04/2009
Privacy International believes that online behavioural targeting for online commercial advertising using the technology of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) is a dangerous and potentially unlawful technique that is fraught with unethical practice. This industry extends across multiple models and strategies including the use of Deep Packet Inspection, Flash Cookies, Tracking Cookies and other emerging technologies.

PI comments on Google's behavioural ad platform 11/03/2009
PI comments on the new behavioural advertising platform from Google.

Campaigns

Privacy International says Facebook vote policy is a "massive confidence trick" 16/04/2009
Privacy International on 16 April described Facebook’s new vote on a change to its terms and conditions as a publicity stunt and a “massive confidence trick” on its 200 million users. Facebook has told users that a vote is valid only if thirty percent of users participate. Privacy International’s senior staff members have promised to eat their shorts if the threshold is ever reached on any vote.

PI warns London Metropolitan Police on their latest surveillance promotional campaign 13/04/2009

Privacy International's responds to the London Metropolitan Police's poster campaign calling on Londoners to report 'suspicious behaviour'.

UK Information Commissioner rules against PI in favour of Google Street View 13/04/2009
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office has finalised its investigation of Privacy International’s complaint about Google Street View. In a detailed response sent to Privacy International on 30th March the Commissioner rejected a number of our claims about the legality of the product, and concluded that no further action would be taken against Google. Although the judgment came down largely against Privacy International’s position, we are pleased that the document has clarified a number of important legal complexities. The response also focused heavily on core issues of principle and process that have relevance far beyond Street View.

Another Open Letter to Google 25/03/2009
After another smear campaign against Privacy International, we wrote an open letter to the CEO of Google, again.

PI files complaint about Google Street View 23/03/2009
After receiving numerous complaints from members of the public, Privacy International has filed a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office about Google's Street View in the United Kingdom.

UK Government backs down on data sharing legislation after PI campaign 08/03/2009
Following an extensive campaign by Privacy International and our network of groups in the United Kingdom, the UK Government has decided to abandon its current plans for data sharing legislation. See the letter from the Justice Minister Michael Wills (PDF).

PI urges European Parliament action on internet surveillance 06/03/2009
Privacy International spoke this week at the European Parliament on how Europe must change its role from one of a pusher of surveillance policy to a model on internet freedom.

Heathrow buries passenger fingerprinting scheme after Privacy International campaign 26/03/2008
Following Privacy International's recent complaint to the Information Commissioner, the British Airports Authority has announced that it will suspend fingerprinting operations in Heathrow terminals.