Fw: Good-bye Privacy
Lynda
Just when you thought they had reached the limit
with their Carnivore technology, here they go with the end product of
1984!
Lynda
===========
On September 19, EPIC and Privacy International (PI) released
their
third annual Privacy and Human Rights survey. "Privacy and Human
Rights 2000: An International Survey of Privacy Laws and
Developments", reviews the state of privacy in over fifty countries
around the world.
The report finds worldwide recognition of privacy as a fundamental
human right. Many countries around the world are enacting
comprehensive data protection laws to safeguard individual privacy.
Many of these countries, especially in South America, South Africa
and Central Europe, are introducing such laws to remedy privacy
violations that occurred under previous authoritarian regimes. Others,
such as in Asia, are developing information privacy laws in an effort
to promote electronic commerce. Others still, such as countries in
Central and Eastern Europe, are hoping to become members of the
European Union and are adopting laws based on the 1995 European Union
Data Protection Directive.
At the same time, both law enforcement agencies and private
corporations are extending surveillance powers through the use of new
technologies. The report notes that many of the recent threats to
individual privacy result from new Internet-based commercial services,
such as interactive television -- or "SpyTV" -- that record the
preferences of individuals. The report recommends improved oversight
and stricter enforcement of current laws to prevent such practices.
The report also argues that the United States government is leading
a multi-tiered effort to limit individual privacy and enhance law
enforcement surveillance powers. For example, on the domestic front,
it is promoting domestic laws such as the Communications Assistance
for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) that make it mandatory for all
companies developing telephone switching, cellular, and satellite
communications technologies to build in surveillance capabilities.
The government has also sought to limit the development and
dissemination of encryption products that protect individuals'
private communications. At the international level, the report finds
that the U.S. has been vigorously promoting greater use of electronic
surveillance and pressurizing countries, such as Japan, into adopting
wiretapping laws. It has also been working through international
bodies such as the European Union, the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Council of Europe and the
G-8 to promote surveillance and place restrictions on online privacy,
anonymity, and encryption.
"Privacy and Human Rights 2000: An International Survey of Privacy
Laws and Developments" by David Banisar is available at:
http://www.epic.org/phr/
third annual Privacy and Human Rights survey. "Privacy and Human
Rights 2000: An International Survey of Privacy Laws and
Developments", reviews the state of privacy in over fifty countries
around the world.
The report finds worldwide recognition of privacy as a fundamental
human right. Many countries around the world are enacting
comprehensive data protection laws to safeguard individual privacy.
Many of these countries, especially in South America, South Africa
and Central Europe, are introducing such laws to remedy privacy
violations that occurred under previous authoritarian regimes. Others,
such as in Asia, are developing information privacy laws in an effort
to promote electronic commerce. Others still, such as countries in
Central and Eastern Europe, are hoping to become members of the
European Union and are adopting laws based on the 1995 European Union
Data Protection Directive.
At the same time, both law enforcement agencies and private
corporations are extending surveillance powers through the use of new
technologies. The report notes that many of the recent threats to
individual privacy result from new Internet-based commercial services,
such as interactive television -- or "SpyTV" -- that record the
preferences of individuals. The report recommends improved oversight
and stricter enforcement of current laws to prevent such practices.
The report also argues that the United States government is leading
a multi-tiered effort to limit individual privacy and enhance law
enforcement surveillance powers. For example, on the domestic front,
it is promoting domestic laws such as the Communications Assistance
for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) that make it mandatory for all
companies developing telephone switching, cellular, and satellite
communications technologies to build in surveillance capabilities.
The government has also sought to limit the development and
dissemination of encryption products that protect individuals'
private communications. At the international level, the report finds
that the U.S. has been vigorously promoting greater use of electronic
surveillance and pressurizing countries, such as Japan, into adopting
wiretapping laws. It has also been working through international
bodies such as the European Union, the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Council of Europe and the
G-8 to promote surveillance and place restrictions on online privacy,
anonymity, and encryption.
"Privacy and Human Rights 2000: An International Survey of Privacy
Laws and Developments" by David Banisar is available at:
http://www.epic.org/phr/