Privacy Profile

PHR2006 - United States of America 18/12/2007

PHR2004 - The United States of America 16/11/2004
There is no explicit right to privacy in the United States Constitution. There is a Bill of Rights, but there is also a controversial Patriot Act in the 'Land of the Free'. Since 9/11, what can we make of an American citizen's rights, freedoms and privacy?

Censorship Profile

Silenced - The United States of America 21/09/2003
Built on the notion of freedom and liberty for all, does America still uphold such values without exception or has 9/11 allowed too much to change too much?

Terrorism Policy Profile

Terrorism Profile - US 03/10/2005
The U.S. activity on anti-terrorism policy has been broad and expansive, particularly on surveillance policy.

News and Developments

German Lander Commissioner legal analysis condemns SWIFT transfers to U.S. 25/08/2006
The Data Protection Commission for the German Lander of Schleswig-Holstein released its legal analysis of the SWIFT transfer of transactional data to the US Government. The analysis concludes that the transfers violate German and European data protection law, and calls for the immediate cessation of the mirroring of European data in the U.S. data centre.

US Government accused of communications data retention and data mining 12/05/2006
The U.S. National Security Agency is accused of approaching four land-line phone companies in the U.S. and collecting traffic data on millions of telephone communications for the purpose of data mining.

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'.

New York city to add CCTV cameras to subway 24/08/2005
Plan includes 1000 video cameras and 3000 motion sensors, and enabling cell phone service in 277 stations.

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'.

US State of Georgia passes law banning fingerprints in licenses 08/04/2005
Following concerns regarding identity theft and privacy, the state assembly of Georgia passed a law prohibiting the collection of fingerprints for drivers licenses.

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.

'Secure Flight' audit finds serious faults 29/03/2005
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has found serious faults with the proposed travel surveillance programme that checks air passengers against terrorist watchlists.

Statewatch Report finds G8 and EU laundering terrorism policy (external PDF) 09/03/2005
In a comprehensive new report, Statewatch (our partner organisation on policy laundering) tracks discussions in the G8, the EU, and the roles of the US and UK in establishing controversial state powers.

US-VISIT auditing report finds privacy faults 28/02/2005
In a new report from the Government Accountability Office finds that the progress to date on the privacy concerns with the border surveillance system is lacking.

Research on Interception of Communications released (external) 28/02/2005
A report released by the Hong Kond Legislative Council Secretariat reviews the differences in interception regimes in the UK, the U.S., and Australia.

US Proposes Biometric Passports with RFID 18/02/2005
The State Department outlines the proposed biometric passport, requiring a digital photograph and a contactless chip, due to 'international obligations'.

U.S. lower house blends immigration, national ID, and driver licenses 11/02/2005
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a law laying the foundation for a national ID card, and creating radical changes in immigration policy. This is on the same day that the UK lower house acted similarly.

GAO reports that border registration of addresses unnecessary 10/02/2005
The Government Accounting Office of the U.S. Government reports that creating a new system to keep track of the locations of aliens, or visitors to the U.S. is of 'questionable' value.

Outgoing US Homeland Security Secretary Ridge calls for increased fingerprinting for Americans 13/01/2005
In a speech to the Center for Strategic International Studies, Ridge heralded international co-operation on combatting terrorism, and called for the fingerprinting of all American passport holders and the increased use of biometrics worldwide, particularly for airport and border security.

BC Privacy Commissioner Warns of USA PATRIOT Act and Other Anti-Terror Laws 30/10/2004
In an eagerly awaited report, the Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia warns there is a “reasonable possibility” of unauthorized disclosure of British Columbians’ personal information under the USA Patriot Act, “rigorous other measures must be put into place to mitigate against illegal and surreptitious access."