Privacy and Human Rights

Each year,  Privacy International and the Electronic Privacy Information Center review the state of privacy in over fifty countries around the world. The survey examines a wide range of privacy issues including, data protection, telephone tapping, genetic databases, ID systems and freedom of information laws. This annual report by EPIC and Privacy International reviews the state of privacy in fifty-five countries around the world.  It outlines legal protections for privacy, new challenges, and summarizes important issues and events relating to privacy and surveillance.  It is the most comprehensive report on privacy and data protection ever published. The 2003 edition of Privacy and Human Rights looks at the expansion of government surveillance authority.  The report finds increased data sharing among government agencies, the use of anti-terrorism laws to suppress political dissent, and the growing use of new technologies of surveillance. The report also notes public opposition to the Total Information Awareness program, video surveillance, and systems of biometric identification.  The survey includes new reports on privacy in countries joining the European Union.  Other new topics include genetic privacy, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and the WHOIS database. The 2003 report was released at the National Press Club in Washington,DC on 5 September 2003. (Live Webcast) (press release).

REPORTS

Privacy and Human Rights 2003, September 2003 Privacy and Human Rights 2002, September 2002 Privacy and Human Rights 2001, September 2001 Privacy and Human Rights 2000, September 2000 Privacy and Human Rights 1999, September 1999 Privacy and Human Rights 1998, October 1998 Global Map of Data Protection