Overview -- Watching the Watchmen and their Watchers 09/08/2004
Most countries around the world regulate the interception of communications by governments and private individuals and organizations. These controls typically take the form of constitutional provisions protecting the privacy of communications and laws and regulations that implement those requirements. Many countries also regularly invade the privacy of communications or use other methods of electronic surveillance, sometimes in contravention to these same constitutional provisions.

Overview -- Growing interactivity means growth of personal information 09/08/2004
The growth of the Internet and electronic commerce has dramatically increased the amount of personal information that is collected about individuals. As consumers engage in routine online transactions, they leave behind a trail of personal details, often without any idea that they are doing so. Much of this information is routinely captured in computer logs.

Top News

Parliamentary Group looking at UK Government communications surveillance plans 29/06/2009
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Privacy, of which PI is the Secretariat, is meeting on July 1st to review the Government's plans for a 'Interception Modernisation Programme'.

PI and Free Expression Groups Call for Limits on Surveillance 08/06/2009
Thirty media organisations from the around the world have joined with PI in calling on governments to limit the use of invasive surveillance techniques, to not adopt data retention laws, and to review their existing laws which allow for wiretapping and access to communications data to ensure that they respect privacy and freedom of expression rights.

Background Information

The process leading to the CoE Convention 22/07/2001
The process to establishing the Convention on Cybercrime consisted of obfuscation and confusion. Negotiated behind closed doors and agreed through little deliberation, many groups worked to oppose the convention.

ENFOPOL and ILETS -- Surveillance by Design 15/10/1999
Background and news on the EU and US initiatives on ensuring that all communications infrastructures are designed with surveillance in mind.

Key PI Resources

Leading surveillance societies in the EU and the World 2007 28/12/2007

Privacy International's rankings of privacy protection around the world.

News and Developments

US Government accused of communications data retention and data mining 12/05/2006
The U.S. National Security Agency is accused of approaching four land-line phone companies in the U.S. and collecting traffic data on millions of telephone communications for the purpose of data mining.

Korean Investigation Finds Massive Illegal Taps (external) 18/12/2005
Prosecutors announced on 14 December that a five month investigation has found that the National Intelligence Surveillance conducted illegal wiretaps of 1,800 people including government officials, journalists and media companies, and unions during previous presidential administrations. The information was provided the Presidents in their daily intelligence briefings. The NIS was raided by prosecutors in August 2005 and hundreds of tapes of conversations were seized from the former head of the program. Two former NIS heads have been charged and two journalists who revealed the spying program have been arrested and charged with violating the communications privacy law.

Privacy Commissioners call for restraint on retention of communications data 01/11/2005
In a carefully worded report, the committee of EU privacy commissioners (the Article 29 Working Party) criticises both the Council and the Commission policies on data retention. The Article 29 Working Party call for restraint and safeguards that have to date not appeared in any national or EU policy.

European Council faces defeat on retention 13/10/2005
After years of internal wrangling amongst ministers from EU member states the Council appears prepared to abandon its data retention proposal in favour of the European Commission's proposed directive.

European Commission announces its plans for data retention 21/09/2005
Adding more to the confusion, the European Commission announces its plans for a Directive on communications data retention.

UK Presidency of the EU encounters opposition to retention plans 09/09/2005
At a meeting of justice ministers and industry, the UK Presidency faced mounting criticism of its proposals.

UK Presidency of the EU speech on civil liberties and terrorism 09/09/2005
Transcript of the speech given by the UK Home Secretary to the European Parliament on the need to reconsider human rights conventions.

UK Presidency 'report' proposes exporting UK surveillance policies 07/09/2005
The UK Presidency of the EU releases a report entitled 'Liberty and Security: Striking the Right Balance', with a photo of the London bombers on the front page, to convince the EU to adopt failed and problematic UK policies on CCTV, biometrics, communications and travel surveillance.

UK Presidency of the EU starts immediately on surveillance package 13/07/2005
The UK is starting its presidency of the EU with a number of surveillance proposals including the monitoring of financial transactions and communications, the sharing of data between member states, and the collection of fingerprints.

Data Retention back on EU Agenda 11/07/2005
Following the terrorist bombings in London, the UK and other European Governments are seeking an agreement at an EU emergency summit on the storage of phone and email traffic data.

European Ministers move forward on data retention 03/06/2005
Justice and Home Affairs Ministers met on June 2nd and concluded a new framework on retention of communications data.

EU announces Action Plan on privacy, terrorism and security 10/05/2005
The European Commission has launched today its 5 year Action Plan for Freedom, Justice and Security - with detailed proposals for EU action on terrorism, migration management, visa policies, asylum, privacy and security, the fight against organised crime and criminal justice.

European Parliament rapporteur rejects retention proposal as "disproportionate, invasive and illusory" 04/05/2005
In a strongly worded announcement, building from PI's submissions on retention to the European Commission and the European Parliament, MEP Alexander Alvaro claims that "the current proposal lacks a proper legal base, is disproportionate and ineffective."