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London, 28 July 2004
 On
July 28th 2004, Privacy International will stage the 6th annual
UK Big Brother Awards to recognise the people and organisations
that have done the most to devastate privacy & civil liberties
in the UK.
Now an annual event in seventeen countries, Privacy International's
Big Brother Awards bring together a rich and unique mix of all
ideologies and backgrounds. This year, for the first time, the
award night will be open to the general public. A space for a
thousand people has been reserved at the London School of Economics,
which is hosting the event on the night.
Nominations from the
public are now being received for Worst Public Servant; Most
Invasive Company; Most Appalling Project;
Most Heinous Government Organisation & Lifetime Menace. Then
there's the award for the most
unspeakably heinous villain (judges choice). Mark Thomas (formerly
of Channel 4's Mark Thomas Comedy Product) will be the MC.
Privacy
International, a London based civil rights group has for the
past 14 years raised awareness around the world about
privacy threats ranging from military surveillance to workplace
drug testing. Since their inception in 1998, Big Brother Awards
are now held as an annual event in countries such as Japan, the
United States, France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Spain,
New Zealand and Australia.
The gold awards -
in the shape of a boot stamping on a human head - drew their
inspiration from George
Orwell's novel "Nineteen
Eighty-Four".
In keeping with a
larger and more open event, there will be a range of entertainment
on the night. The hilarious
award winning
cabaret act Topping & Butch will be doing a set, along with
some special guests. Then it's cheap drinks, lots of chat, and
dancing for the rest of the night.
Simon Davies, Director
of Privacy International, said "Given
the depressing state of civil liberties in the UK, throwing a
huge party is the very least we can do".
"
The challenges facing civil liberties and privacy in Britain
are more extensive than at any point since the Second World War" he
said. "These fragile rights are under sustained and systematic
attack by almost all parts of the public and private sector.
Without care those freedoms will largely disappear".
The event has no charge. Anyone wanting to come along for the
fun should RSVP as quickly as possible to simon@privacy.org or
phone 0207 955 6579
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