Reports

Reports, Long Reads, Country Reports

Report

Understanding private surveillance providers and technologies

New policy paper by Privacy International and the Geneva Centre for Security Governance Sector (DCAF) explores surveillance services provided by private military and security companies.

Long Read

A woman sat on outside steps using a gold smartphone

The hidden cost of digital health services

New research from our partners at the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) reveals Indian health websites and apps are sharing intimate health-related data with third parties such as Facebook and Google.

Report

Close-up of a store shelf that shows electronics like a laptop, smartphone and smart watches bearing software expiry dates

We looked into the software support practices for 5 of the most popular smart devices (and the results may disappoint you)

As EU policymakers are about to adopt new laws to empower consumers and increase cyber-resilience, PI's research shows that the existing practices of device manufacturers around software and security updates fail to meet the expectations of the vast majority of consumers.

Report

Briefing: Controlling the UK's Private Intelligence Industry

New briefing details the growth of the private intelligence industry in the UK and what needs to be done about it.

Report

PI's briefing on national data retention laws

PI’s briefing examing the current state of affairs in bulk data retention regulation across ten key jurisdictions.

Report

Protesters holding placard reading 'free to protest' while surrounded by police

Locating Privacy in the Right to Protest Pakistan

New report mapping the on-ground experiences of local activists in Pakistan. It documents and analyses collective and personal privacy issues faced by civic organisers and protestors.

Long Read

Drawing of an ankle tag on an ankle alongside a map of the UK with data points, and dollar signs around

Who profits from the UK's 24/7 tracking of migrants?

The UK puts migrants under 24/7 GPS surveillance. As usual, private companies are outsourced to deliver this hostile policy - who are they? We've investigated.

Long Read

Drawing showing woman's phone information going into the ballot box

Our final report on Kenya's 2022 election in collaboration with The Carter Center Election Expert Mission

Prior to Kenya’s Presidential election in August 2022, PI travelled to Nairobi to collaborate with The Carter Center as part of their pre-election assessment team to assess the role of technology and data in elections. This is the final report resulting from that election expert mission.

Case Study

ID systems analysed: DNIe in Peru

This piece was written by Privacy International, based on publicly available information and on research by our partners at Hiperderecho

Overview

The Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI) is the personal ID card recognised by the Peruvian State in any situation

Report

Image of protesters with protest surveillance technology annotations

Restraining protest surveillance: When should surveillance of protesters become unlawful?

PI has published a report advocating for 12 human rights-based legal standards to limit surveillance by police and law enforcement at protests. Our report explains how these standards are rooted in the rights to privacy and freedom of assembly and illustrates why these specific legal limits are necessary at every stage of a protest.

Long Read

A black female content creator at her desk in front of a camera with an ominous black box with data points and an eye on one face looking at her behind her shoulder

Creating content in the gig economy: a risky business

The rise of the gig-economy, a way of working relying on short term contracts and temporary jobs rather than on an employed workforce, has enabled the growth of a number of companies over the last few years. But without the rights that comes with full employment, gig economy workers today don't have access to essential protections.

Report

Under Surveillance: (Mis)use of Technologies in Emergency Responses Global lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic

The European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO), and Privacy International (PI) joined together to track the negative impacts of surveillance technology and measures deployed during the Covid-19 pandemic on activist movements and organizations, in collaboration with local organizations and researchers in 6 countries.

Long Read

Silhouette of a child reading a book in front of a sunset

EdTech in India: Worst Practices

In this article we look at the worst practices in the use of education technology across India's education system - the largest in the world.

Press release

Chart showing results of the YouGov survey PI commissioned

Privacy International research shows that smart device security updates fail to meet consumers' expectations

As EU policymakers discuss new laws to empower tech consumers and increase cyber-resilience, PI's research points to an urgent need for regulation to ensure that device manufacturers provide longer term security updates to protect consumers from cyberattacks.

Report

illustration of 2 people alone in a field

Securing Privacy: PI on End-to-End Encryption

PI’s report on end-to-end encryption (E2EE) analyses and defends expanding the use of E2EE to protect our communications. It defines E2EE, delves into its human rights implications, briefly addresses some prominent proposals for government access to E2EE content, and concludes with PI’s recommendations regarding E2EE.

Long Read

The World Bank & social protection during crises: a privacy trade-off?

Privacy International ("PI") researched a number of social safety-net projects financed by the World Bank during the COVID-19 pandemic. To inform the World Bank's future implementation of these kinds of projects, this article reflects on how certain aspects of social protection projects can inadvertently lead to excessive surveillance of marginalised communities, impact equal access to urgent social protection disbursements, and interfere with people's dignity and right to privacy.