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2003 News
PI Submits Comments on Canadian ID Card Proposal
Privacy International has submitted comments to
the Citizenship & Immigration Committee of the Canadian Parliament urging
caution on adopting a national id card system. PI estimates that the full cost
of the system would cost Can$7 billion and would raise substantial privacy
and security concerns.
Conference on ISP Surveillance - 22 October 2003
Privacy International and the Foundation for Information Policy are holding a
half day conference on Wednesday, 22nd October 2003 on the UK governments
plans on data retention. Scrambling for Safety
7 will have representatives from government, civil society and industry
debating the new government proposals requiring communications companies
to monitor their users' activities and provide the information to government
bodies without a court order. Attendance is free. International FOI Survey Released
Privacy International and Freedominfo.org have released a new study of
Freedom of Information Laws in 53 countries for the International Freedom of
Information Day. The study finds that FOI is now an essential and standard
feature in democratic governments around the world. See the FOIA
Page for more information.
PI and GreenNet Release Internet Censorship Survey
Silenced a global
study of Internet censorship in over fifty countries and regions
finds that Internet restrictions, government secrecy and communications
surveillance have reached an unprecedented level across the
world. The twelve-month study conducted by Privacy International
and the GreenNet Educational Trust has found that a sharp escalation
in control of the Internet since September 2001 may have outstripped
the traditional ability of the medium to repel attempts at
restriction.
PI and EPIC Release 2003 International Privacy Survey
Privacy International and the Electronic Privacy Information Center released Privacy
and Human Rights 2003 on 5 September. The report reviews the state of privacy
in 55 countries around the world. Issues covered include data protection, surveillance,
anti-terrorism efforts and new technologies.
 UK Home Office to Push National ID Card
A leaked letter from Home Secretary David Blunkett to the Deputy Prime Minister
reveals that the Home Secretary has decided to push forward a national
ID card for all Britons over 16. The cards will mandatory and each card
will contain biometic information. The cards will cost each person £39(US$65).
A central database of personal information will be set up. However, other
press reports also say that Chancellor Gordon Brown is opposed to spending
any public money and the rest of the Cabinet is not convinced. (The
Times, 6 July 2003).
Canadian Privacy Commissioner Resigns
Canadian Privacy Commissioner George Radwinski resigned on 24 June following
weeks of public and Parliamentiary criticism over excessive travel and
food expenses and misleading Parliament and 75 percent of his staff signed
a petition asking him to step down. He had spent $300,000 in two years. Report of
the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. He has been
temporarily replaced by Robert Marleau, a former House of Commons clerk.
UK Governmernment to Ignore ID Card Opposition
In response to
several Parliamentary Questions, the UK Government has revealed that the 5,000
anti-Entitlement Card email submissions sent via the Stand.org.uk website
were to be "counted in the same way as other inspired samples or surveys
of opinion which by their nature cannot be representative of the population
as a whole".
PI Condemns "Shameful" Deal Over Vote for Top
EU Privacy Post
Privacy International has sent an open
letter to the European Parliament over its decision to recommend the appointment
of an unknown Spanish magistrate for the influential post of European Data
Protection chief. In a secret ballot of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms
and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs of the EP on May 20, Joaquín Bayo
Delgado was selected as primary candidate for the post of Data Protection Supervisor
for Europe. The post carries extensive responsibilities, including oversight
of the controversial Schengen Information System. Press
release.
PI Launches Campaign to Demand Communications Records
Privacy International has commenced the "Know
Your Data" campaign and has called on UK consumers to demand access
to their records held by telephone, mobile and Internet companies. The campaign
has been launched in the wake of two government consultations on data retention
and data access that may establish a universal surveillance regime across all
UK communications. PI has also released correspondence with
the Interception of Communications Commissioner, Sir Swinton Thomas and with
the Home Secretary's Office that provide a disturbing insight into the method
by which interception warrants are authorised. Also see the Know
Your Data Retention Czar FAQ for information on the lead UK government
official promoting data retention.
Scrambling for Safety 6 Conference on Data Retention and
Access Consultation
Privacy International and FIPR organized an open meeting
on 14 May on the Home Office Consultations on Data Retention and
Access to Communications Data. Speakers included the Home Office
and experts from civil society, academia and industry. See the Conference
web site for details and presentations.
Stupid Security winners revealed
Privacy International announced the results of its competition
to find the worlds most pointless, intrusive and egregious security
measures. The competition, launched in February, attracted almost
5,000 nominations from 35 countries. While the air security sector
dominated the competition, nominations arose from almost all areas
of private and public sector activity. The winners include JFK
Airport,Michigan Correctional facilities and the Australian Government.
See the Stupid Security page for
more information.
UK and US Big Brother Awards Announced
Privacy
International has announced the results of the UK and US Awards.
The 5th UK Big Brother Awards winners
are Ken Livingstone, Capita, ACPO, and the PIU Data Sharing Report.
PM Tony Blair received the Lifetime Menace Award. The 2003
US BBAs were held on 3 April 2003 at the Computers, Freedom
and Privacy Conference in New York City. The winners are Total
Information Awareness, Delta Airlines, and Assistant AG Viet Dien.
Osama Bin Laden received a Lifetime Menace Award for his efforts
that led to the crackdown of civil liberties in the US and worldwide.
Surveillance Devices found in EU Headquarters
Officials at the EU Headquarters in Brussels have confirmed
reports in French newspaper Le Figaro that electronic
bugging devices have been found in offices used by French and German
delegations. EU Spokesman Dominque Marro said that devices were
found in offices used by other delegations as well. He went on
to say that this discovery was being investigated and that it was "impossible
at this stage" to say who planted them, although Le Figaro quoted
unofficial comments which attributed them to US Intelligence. (BBC,
19 March 2003).
UK Government Announces Consultation on Data Retention
and Access
The Home Office released two consultation papers on Access
to Communications Data and a Voluntary
Code of Practice on Data Retention on 11 March. The Access
consultation represents a backing down from the Home Office proposals
last June that radically expanded the number of government bodies
whou would access records. However, the Data Retention consultation,
which would have ISPs tracking their users, is generating controversy. See
the PI UK Wiretap page for
background information. (BBC,
11 March 2003).
PI Launches Competition to Find the World's Most
Stupid Security Measure
Privacy International has launched a competition to discover
the world's most pointless, intrusive and self-serving security
initiatives. The "Stupid Security" Award will highlight
measures which are outrageously pointless and illusory, and which
cause unnecessary distress and annoyance. Nominations are open
to everyone. The winners will be announced in New York on April
3rd. Annoucement and Guidelines.
Liberal Democrats Sponsor Complaint Over ID Card
Consultation Flaws
The Lib-Dem Home Affairs spokesman, Simon Hughes MP, has
written to Home Office Minister Lord Falconer demanding a response
to PI's complaint over apparent maladministration by the Home Office
in the ID card consultation process Privacy International has requested
an investigation by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Hughes' Press
Release
PI Calls for Investigation Into Home Office Consultation
Breaches
Privacy International submitted
a complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsman
on 30 January to investigate apparent maladministration
by Home Office in the ID card consultation process.
PI's complaint alleges four breaches of the Cabinet
Office Code Of Practice on consultations. They relate
to requirements for even-handedness, specificity,
impact assessment and declaration of the relevant
complaints procedure. Press
release. Open
Letter.
5,000 Comments Oppose UK ID Card Proposal
Over 5,000 people contacted the Home Office
to oppose the proposed "Entitlement Card." (BBC
story) through STAND's
online service (and send a fax to your MP). Privacy
International also set up two local rate numbers:
in favour of ID Card: 0845 330 7245,
against the ID Card: 0845 330 7246.
Each message left on these lines will be converted
to an audio file, and then emailed to the Home Office.
The government has confirmed that these will be regarded
as legitimate consultation responses. See the Privacy
International UK ID Card page for more information.
Norwegian Court Finds DeCSS Creator Innocent
The Oslo City Court found Jon Johansen innocent on 7January
of computer hacking and copyright violations for writing DeCSS,
a program that allows Linux users to play DVDs on their computers.
He was prosecuted after American entertainment companies complained
to Norwegian prosecutors that his program has caused millions of
dollars in losses. EFF
DeCSS Case Archive. (Aftenposten,
7 January 2003).
Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council Says Interior
Ministry Violated Privacy Laws
The Supreme Judicial Council claimed on 5 January that the Interior Ministry
violated laws when its services wiretapped telephones in connection with the
so-called Gnom case, mediapool.bg reported. During the eavesdropping
action, the ministry bugged the telephones of former National Security Service
head General Atanas Atanasov, who is charged with espionage on behalf of the
United States and Great Britain. Sofia district military prosecutors, however,
said the wiretapping was legal. In late December, opposition politician Yordan
Bakalov of the conservative SDS accused the Interior Ministry of wiretapping
the telephones of former President Petar Stoyanov, judges, and journalists
in connection with the Gnom case ( RFE/RL Newsline, 6 January 2002).
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