The following forwarded from alt.privacy. Anybody have experience with this group? Have they taken a position on the wiretap chip? Subject: Group Info: Privacy International Message-ID: <1993Apr12.184129.11455@mont.cs.missouri.edu> Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu Organization: Privacy International PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL A WATCHDOG ON SURVEILLANCE GENERAL INFORMATION PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL - THE BIRTH OF A WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT We are posting this in the hope that you might get involved in a new organization which is actively involved world-wide in the protection of privacy. Privacy International is an independent Non Government Organization (NGO) established in 1990 to protect personal privacy and to monitor surveillance by governments, financial institutions, intelligence agencies, media, political groups, police, and other organizations. At the invitation of its members and member organizations throughout the world, Privacy International has conducted successful campaigns against surveillance in Asia, Europe and North America. Many of these campaigns have raised awareness about the dangers of proposals for identity cards, national numbering systems, computer linking programmes and military surveillance. Others have reinforced the importance of developing laws to protect personal privacy. WHO ARE PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL!S MEMBERS ? Over the past three years Privacy International has established an outstanding and very active member network of legal experts, human rights advocates, information systems experts, academics, data protection experts, social and political scientists , and a whole range of concerned individuals from more than 40 countries. These members, who comprise much of the world!s expertise in privacy protection, form an independent network that can respond fearlessly to problems of all kinds. SOME OF OUR WORK Privacy International has conducted campaigns on a wide variety of issues throughout Europe, North America and Asia Our first campaign was undertaken during 1991 in Thailand, where the government had established a central population registration and ID card system. The system, controlled by the powerful Ministry of the Interior, would link many departments and ministries, and had few legal safeguards. A seven week campaign by Privacy International raised awareness amongst politicians, human rights organizations and the public about the potential dangers of the system. The second campaign, concerning yet another ID card proposal was conducted in Manila during April and May of 1991. The invitation to Privacy International came from the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), the peak human rights NGO in the Philippines. Several bills were pending in the Congress and the Senate mandating the establishment of a national identity card and numbering system. PAHRA felt that this proposal could infringe the rights of Filipinos, and create problems for the Philippines fragile democratic process. A comprehensive submission was made to the Senate of the Philippines, pointing out the likely costs, both in economic and civil rights terms, of the proposal. The third campaign involved the establishment by the New Zealand Government of a data matching and government benefits card system known generically as the "Kiwi Card". An invitation was issued to Privacy International by the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties in late August, and I travelled to Auckland in early September. The Council was concerned about the government's plan for a number of reasons. First, the plan to data match amongst government agencies lacked adequate legal protection. Second, the Kiwi Card plan raised issues of discrimination. A more general concern that developed throughout the subsequent campaign was whether the New Zealand legal and political system embraced enough protections and rights to ensure that the system would not be abused. Current Activities THE NORTHERN IRELAND SURVEILLANCE PROJECT This project, the first of its type ever undertaken in Northern Ireland, will investigate the full extent of surveillance throughout the country. It is to be sponsored by the Law Faculty of the Queen!s University of Belfast. Human rights organizations have expressed concern for some years over the loss of basic rights in Northern Ireland. The development of complex and powerful information technology has increased the risk of routine surveillance of citizens, and consequently the loss of personal privacy in Northern Ireland has escalated. The emergency legislation in force there compounds this unfortunate situation. The report will be made publicly available by the end of 1993. THE STASI FILE PROJECT One of the most complex civil and political rights issues for former eastern block countries is the dilemma of how to deal with the files of police and intelligence organizations. The problem is compounded by the absence of any international guidelines which could be used as a benchmark. Privacy International is planning to establish a project which will develop international guidelines for handling police and official files in countries which are in transition to democracy. Privacy International has established an expert group to develop the guidelines. he establishment of an independent The group will work closely closely with members of relevant countries seeking to develop such legislation. THE BIG BROTHER AWARDS Governments, private sector organizations, credit bureaus, police departments and the military in many countries are engaging in programs which have the effect of eroding the rights and privacy of individuals. These practices often breach international human rights conventions, and threaten the balance or evolution of free and open societies. In many cases, information technology is used for the purposes of increasing the power of authorities, while diminishing the rights of individuals. These violations occur in all parts of the world. The Big Brother awards sponsored by Privacy International, will be given to the organization, initiative, government or act which is most invasive of private life, or which is responsible for the most dangerous and intrusive acts of surveillance. Privacy International believes that there should be a more widespread awareness of these practices. We believe people have the right to know when governments or other organizations are engaging in intrusive practices that limit individual rights. We aim to provide an effective context for viewing these invasive practices, by establishing an international benchmark. The establishment of the Big Brother awards aims to provide a world-wide focus on surveillance and privacy. THE INTERNATIONAL PRIVACY BULLETIN Privacy International!s quarterly newsletter, The International Privacy Bulletin, contains reports from around the world on privacy and surveillance, together with articles on a wide spectrum of privacy issues such as telecommunications privacy, encryption, privacy legislation, corrupt disclosure of confidential files and news of Privacy International!s activities. The International Privacy Bulletin is distributed free to all members and supporters. THE INTERNATIONAL INTERNET PRIVACY ARCHIVE Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) has created an electronic library of reports, laws and commentary on privacy. The archive includes discussions of communications privacy, cryptography, texts of international documents on privacy and many other materials. There are several hundred documents in the archive and more are being added every day. There is also a special folder in the library for Privacy International documents including electronic versions of newsletters, updates, country reports and international documents. There are currently several dozen files available. Access is through Internet mail, FTP, Gopher or WAIS. Through mail, send the command: help as the first line of text in a message to listserv@cpsr.org. FTP/Gopher/WAIS to cpsr.org folder /cpsr. All access is free. Users of the archive are encouraged to submit their articles for others to use. People who are interested in submitting articles, please contact David Banisar at 1+202/544-9240 Email: banisar@washofc.cpsr.org If you are interested in getting involved in the work of Privacy International, please contact Simon Davies, Marc Rotenberg, or David Banisar at : Privacy International, 666 Pennsylvania Ave SE Suite 303 Washington, DC 20003 United States of America Phone (+1) 202 544 9240 Fax (+1) 202 547 5481 E.Mail: pi@washofc.cpsr.org PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP FORM Name...................................................... Organisation.............................................. Address................................................... .......................................................... .......................................................... Phone..................................................... Fax....................................................... Email..................................................... Special interests ........................................ .......................................................... $20 (Low income) $50 (full membership) All personal information is strickly confidential and will not be disclosed without the prior consent of the indvidual.