Top News

Privacy and the new UK government 13/05/2010
Privacy and the new UK government: the local and international implications, and open letter from PI's Director to our Trustees, Advisory Board supporters and partners.

Background Information

Backgrounder on the Arar Case on Canadian Rendition from the U.S. to Syria 19/04/2006
This mini report outlines the dynamics in the case of Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen who was stopped on a return flight to Canada via the U.S., and then sent to Syria where he was allegedly tortured for almost a year until the Syrians returned him to Canada. This report looks at the the case in detail and notes the lack of due process and protections in the creation of watchlists and the sharing of intelligence across borders.

Background on Biometric Passports 30/03/2004
In an effort to 'secure' passport and visa documentation, biometric passports are being promoted by the UN-level International Civil Aviation Organization. This initiative was led by the U.S., and is leading to national biometric databases, national ID cards, and the international trade in our most personal information, as an infrastructure of surveillance is born.

News and Developments

How to deal with the Heathrow fingerprint system 23/03/2008
BAA, the operators of Heathrow, have decided to illegally fingerprint all domestic travellers. Privacy International has come up with a privacy 'travel guide' to advise you on how to deal with Heathrow's illegal actions. We advise you to photograph Heathrow personnel as they fingerprint you because they are in breach of law, and using glue to protect your fingerprints from illegal capture.

EU to announce fingerprinting for all visitors 12/02/2008
The European Commission is about to announce the compulsory fingerprinting of all visitors to the EU, both visa holders and non-visa holders, along with automated border checks of EU nationals through the analysis of fingerprints and facial scans.

Canadian investigation into rendition faults authorities for inaccurate data 19/09/2006
The national Commission that was charged to investigate the case of Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen who was rendered from the U.S. to Syria in 2002, released its report finding that the Canadian authorities relied and passed on inaccurate information to the U.S. government and wrongly placed Arar and his wife on border watchlists.

EU announces fingerprint specifications for passports 30/06/2006
Despite there being no reason for their introduction, the EU has released specifications for the inclusion of fingerprints in all EU passports.

U.S. to transform border security measures 18/01/2006
In an announcement shared by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State, the Bush Administration announced a number of new measures at managing borders, including biometric cards and using 'travel intelligence'.

EU Moves closer to Entry-Exit System for Foreigners 25/11/2005
Copying recent moves by the U.S. in its own VISIT programme, the European Commission is proposing increasing access to databases of all foreigners and their fingerprints, while further developing the existing data stores.

EU proposes its own border registration programme aka EU-VISIT 13/10/2005
In response to the London Bombings in July 2005 the Justice and Home Affairs Council and the UK's Presidency of the EU are proposing a number of additional measures including an border registration programme that will mimic US-VISIT, and access to databases on immigrants that will mimic the failed MATRIX programme.

UK Presidency of the EU speech on civil liberties and terrorism 09/09/2005
Transcript of the speech given by the UK Home Secretary to the European Parliament on the need to reconsider human rights conventions.

UK Presidency 'report' proposes exporting UK surveillance policies 07/09/2005
The UK Presidency of the EU releases a report entitled 'Liberty and Security: Striking the Right Balance', with a photo of the London bombers on the front page, to convince the EU to adopt failed and problematic UK policies on CCTV, biometrics, communications and travel surveillance.

G8 Gleneagles 2005 statement on Counter-terrorism 08/07/2005
Amidst disagreements on aid and the environment, the G8 agrees on measures to combat terrorism, including: travel surveillance, increased international cooperation of intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies and policy makers, methods to combat document fraud, amongst others.

U.S. moves on biometric passport deadline - but not really 16/06/2005
According to both the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, the deadline for biometric passports has been shifted. This leaves some confusion.

G8 Meeting of Justice Ministers Begins - declaring laundry list 15/06/2005
From June 15 to 17 the ministers of justice and home affairs from the eight countries within the G8 will be meeting in Sheffield. Their list of policies that they wish to launder under claims of 'international obligations' is wide and dangerous, as ever.

U.S. and EU meet on terrorism, crime, and travel surveillance 26/05/2005
The new U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security makes his first trip to Europe to discuss issues of 'shared' interest, including data-sharing and a security 'envelope'.

EU announces Action Plan on privacy, terrorism and security 10/05/2005
The European Commission has launched today its 5 year Action Plan for Freedom, Justice and Security - with detailed proposals for EU action on terrorism, migration management, visa policies, asylum, privacy and security, the fight against organised crime and criminal justice.

Industry organizations calls for delay in passport deadline 08/04/2005
The UK's Confederation of British Industry (CBI) calls on the U.S. to extend the deadline for biometric passports, currently set for October 2005, after which British citizens will need to apply for visas.

U.S. warns EU on fingerprints and RFID in passports 08/04/2005
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary addresses a letter to the EU warning them on the use of additional and unnecessary technologies in EU passports.

UK Passport to only include a digital photo but costs set to double 29/03/2005
In an eagerly awaited announcement, the UK Home Office declared that new passports may be issued from the end of this year, though possibly later. These new passports will only include a scanned image of the face of the individual, and not extended information such as fingerprints and iris scans.