Privacy International The 1999 US Big Brother Awards

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Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC
April 7, 1999

On April 7, 1999, the human rights group Privacy International presented the first annual "Big Brother" awards to the government and private sector organizations which have done the most to invade personal privacy in the United States.

"Big Brother" awards were presented to the government agencies, companies and initiatives which have done most to invade personal privacy. "Lifetime Achievement" and "The People's Choice" awards were also presented.

The judging panels, consisting of lawyers, academics, consultants, journalists and civil rights activists, accepted hundreds of nominations from members of the public.

The Brandeis Award is named after US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who described privacy as "the right to be left alone." The awards are given to those have done exemplary work to protect and champion privacy.

Awards Winners


Most Invasive Proposal
FDIC 'Know Your Customer

Greatest Corporate Invader
Elensys Inc

Worst Public Official
Representative Bill McCollum

Lifetime Menace
F.B.I.

Peoples Choice
Microsoft

Brandeis Awards


Phil Zimmermann
author of Pretty Good Privacy encryption software

Diana Mey
fought telemarketers and won.
See USA Today story, Woman Yanks Cord on Telemarketer

Press Coverage
CNN, 'Big Brother Awards' highlight privacy complaints, April 12, 1999
Irish Times, Outing those in favour of invasion of privacy, April 30, 1999.
New York Times, Privacy Groups 'Honor' Some Institutional Foes, April 19, 1999.
USA Today, Privacy Raises Many Online Issues, April 12, 1999.
USA Today, Woman Yanks Cord on Telemarketer, April 12, 1999.
PC World, Orwell's Legacy: Big Brother Awards, April 8, 1999.
The San Francisco Examiner, Big brother award winners, April 8, 1999.
Insight on the News, AIN'T NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT MY OWN? May 10, 1999.
Journal of Commerce, Big Brother Congressman, May 3, 1999.
Information Security, Privacy's Big Bother, April, 1999.
LinuxWorld, Intel, US Govt honored for breaches of privacy, April 1999.