Privacy International

Articles by Privacy International

A man talks on his mobile phone in Jakarta, 30 October 2014, AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana

Will new government in Indonesia bring about surveillance reforms?

Too often Indonesians have witnessed their government purchasing and using surveillance technology without making the changes necessary to operate them in accordance with the law. Now is an opportunity to reverse that trend.

Link to: Thailand’s junta aggressively pursuing increased legal, technical surveillance powers

Thailand’s junta aggressively pursuing increased legal, technical surveillance powers

Since the beginning of the year, the military-led government of Thailand has been focusing on increasing their surveillance capabilities, both from a legal and technical standpoint.

A mask that is part of a privacy awareness campaign is worn by a participant at a hacker conference in Las Vegas, 5 August 2014, REUTERS/Steve Marcus

Rights disregarded in “golden age” of electronic surveillance

On Data Privacy Day, it’s time for governments to stop eavesdropping and start listening to their citizens.

A Saudi man pictured in Riyadh on 11 February 2014, after authorities intensified Internet monitoring in the kingdom, REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

Huge transparency win forces Switzerland to disclose surveillance exports data

In an enormous breakthrough for those seeking accountability for the shadowy surveillance industry, the Swiss Government has been forced to publish the list of export licenses for surveillance technologies and other equipment, including details of their cost and destination.

g4ll4is / Flickr

The year that governments struck back: Seven things you need to know about privacy in 2014

In 2014, surveillance powers of the state actually reached worrying new heights. Though Snowden’s actions spurred many national conversations, governments maintained a willful ignorance to these concerns and passed new and expansive surveillance laws.

Link to: End proliferation of surveillance technologies available to repressive countries

End proliferation of surveillance technologies available to repressive countries

The members of the Coalition Against Unlawful Surveillance Exports (CAUSE) have addressed an open letter to the Wassenaar Arrangement’s participating states ahead of their plenary meeting asking them to take heed of civil society views in their negotiations on dual-use goods and technologies.

Link to: UN adopts resolution condemning unlawful government surveillance

UN adopts resolution condemning unlawful government surveillance

The UN adopted an important resolution reaffirming the right to privacy in the digital age, condemning unlawful government mass surveillance and calling on member States to review their legislation and policies to ensure that they are in line with human rights law.

Link to: New report finds little oversight of surveillance, intelligence agencies in Latin America

New report finds little oversight of surveillance, intelligence agencies in Latin America

Governments across Latin America are struggling to put in place effective intelligence and surveillance oversight regimes that guarantee the rights of citizens, according to a new report released by the Asociación por los Derechos Civiles.