Campaigns

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 calls for review of UK privacy regulator following series of failed judgements 23/04/2009
Privacy International today attacked the UK Information Commissioner's handling of its complaint against Google Street View and called for a 'root and branch' overhaul of the Commissioner's Office by Parliament. The call follows a ten-year succession of failed attempts by Privacy International to encourage the Commissioner to uphold the principles and the spirit of the Data Protection Act and to discard much of the pragmatic reasoning that we believe is undermining privacy rights in Britain.

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.

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.

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'.

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.

Civil society joins key professional bodies to demand removal of data sharing powers 28/02/2009
Many of Britain's leading professional bodies have joined Privacy International and colleague NGO's to call for the complete withdrawal of the controversial clause 152 data sharing powers. An open letter signed by thirty organisations ranging from the Royal College of Psychiatrists to the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association has condemned the new powers as a dangerous threat to privacy, and has demanded the removal of the clause from the Coroners & Justice Bill.

Summary of Civil Society position on APEC Privacy Initiative 02/11/2008
We have organised this statement to respond to mis-representations regarding civil society's view of the APEC data privacy process.

Wanted Poster! A call for the UK Prime Minister's fingerprints 06/04/2008

Privacy International and the UK's NO2ID have launched a campaign to show the dangers of the collection of fingerprints into central government databases. We are offering a reward for the first person to collect and submit the UK Prime Minister's and Home Secretary's fingerprints. See the graphic for more information.

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.

Privacy International complaint poised to shut down Heathrow passenger fingerprinting 22/03/2008
Privacy International's recent complaint to the UK Information Commissioner has threatened to bring a halt to an imminent plan to fingerprint all domestic and international passengers departing from Heathrow's Terminal 1 and Terminal 5, due to begin business on March 27th. The British media is reporting that in response to PI's complaint, the Information Commissioner has advised that passengers should only accept fingerprinting "under protest" until our complaint is resolved.

PI responds to Ontario Privacy Commissioner ruling on CCTV 03/03/2008
Privacy International is dismayed by a number of findings in the report by the Ontario Information & Privacy Commissioner into our complaint over the mass installation of surveillance cameras by TTC.

PI Launches 'And Who are You?' campaign to protect individuals against fraud 11/01/2008
When companies and government departments contact you by phone they always require you to identify yourself. But how do you know who’s on the other end of the line? Is it really your mobile phone provider, or are you about to become a victim of a malicious identity attack? Privacy International launches a campaign to combat identity theft by calling on companies and government agencies to give consumers more control over their personal information.

Privacy International to pursue data breach legal action against UK government 24/11/2007
Following revelations that more than 25 million records have been lost by the UK Revenue & Customs, Privacy International has decided to pursue legal action against the government. This action will be taken directly on behalf of more than 300 complainants and indirectly on behalf of all those people affected by the unlawful disclosure from HMRC. PI’s current intention is to pursue a claim for a general (not statute-based) breach of a duty of care on the basis of negligence.

PI leads coalition of organisations against Japanese Government plans for fingerprinting at border 19/11/2007
Today, in a coalition with Japanese groups, Privacy International delivered a letter to the Japanese Minister of Justice to protest against the implementation of a fingerprinting system and face-scanning system at its borders. All visitors and many foreign residents to Japan will be fingerprinted under this plan. Our letter to the Minister is endorsed by 68 organisations from 30 countries.

PI Comments on Google-Doubleclick Merger to the European Commission 05/11/2007
PI wrote a letter to the head of the European Commission DG COMP calling on Commissioner Kroes to take the merger of these internet advertising giants to the next phase. We argue that the merger could have serious implications for privacy innovation in advertising. Our letter was endorsed by groups from across Europe.

PI Files complaint about expansion of CCTV on Toronto transit network 25/10/2007
Privacy International filed a complaint with the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner's Office regarding the plans to implement 12,000 cameras across Toronto's transportation network of buses, streetcars, and subways at a cost of $18 million. The Toronto Transit Commission has repeatedly argued that CCTVs act as a deterrent despite international criminological evidence proving otherwise.