Advocacy

Campaigns, Legal Case Description, Advocacy

Advocacy

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Interoperability in the Digital Markets Act - Joint letter to the European Commission

A group of European technology firms and civil society organisations, including PI, calls on the European Commission to support a strong ex ante interoperability requirement for dominant “gatekeeper” firms in the forthcoming proposal for a Digital Markets Act.

Advocacy

Cooperating With Who?! Answers Needed as UK Retailer Southern Co-Op Tests Facewatch

Privacy International is seeking answers and assurances from UK supermarket chain Southern Co-Op following its trial of the Facewatch facial recognition network

Report

Submission to the UN on its guidance document on countering terrorism financing

In this submission, Privacy International (PI) responds to the call for inputs to assist the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact Working Groups on “Criminal Justice, Legal Responses and Countering the Financing of Terrorism” and “Promoting and Protecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law while Countering Terrorism and Supporting Victims of Terrorism” in developing a guidance document intended to support Member States in their efforts to implement countering terrorism financing measures, in compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2462 (2019), and in full respect of international human rights law.

Advocacy

Response to the Call for Evidence by DCMS: Review of Representative Action Provisions (Section 189, Data Protection Act 2018)

On 27 August 2020, the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published a call for views and evidence relating to the review of the Data Protection Act 2018’s representative action provisions. This is a summary of Privacy International's response to that call, with a full copy of our submissions to the DCMS available for download at the bottom of this page.

Advocacy

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WTO trade talks must safeguard privacy, 42 organisations urge

In a statement coordinated by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), PI and others underline the importance of trust in the digital economy. This can only happen by placing people’s fundamental rights to data protection and privacy first.

Long Read

Surveillance Disclosures Show Urgent Need for Reforms to EU Aid Programmes

Privacy International and other campaigners are demanding that the EU enact urgent reforms to development aid and cooperation programmes after disclosures reveal their extensive use to train and equip security forces with surveillance techniques.

News & Analysis

Here’s how a well-connected security company is quietly building mass biometric databases in West Africa with EU aid funds

Documents disclosed to Privacy International reveal how the European Union has been using aid funds to finance the development of biometric identity systems in countries in Africa as part of its response to migration, and highlight urgent concerns.

News & Analysis

Authorities Must Act on Police Face Surveillance Network by the Backdoor

Privacy International is calling on regulatory and law enforcement bodies to investigate the roll out of a face surveillance network by a UK company called Facewatch.

Long Read

The impact of our public campaign against the proposed Google/Fitbit merger

During summer 2020, over 2,500 people signed PI's public petition opposing the proposed Google/Fitbit merger. We sent the petition to the European Commission, who are yet to decide if the merger can proceed. The Commission responded by thanking petitioners for their concerns and cooperation, just as they opened a detailed phase 2 investigation into the merger.

Advocacy

Tally marks painted on a wall, behind one set is a woman painted as though looking through jail bars, in the corner text reads 'Free Zehra Doğan'

Our submission to the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women on women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights in times of crisis

PI’s submission highlights traditional and modern obstacles to the full and equal realisation of sexual and reproductive rights

News & Analysis

UN experts report highlights role of private military and security companies in immigration management

A new UN experts report shines light on the role of private military and security services in immigration and border management and their impact to the rights of all migrants.

Case Study

…privacy matters

Privacy protects our freedom to be human - to live, learn, and develop.

News & Analysis

Assessing data management activities in the humanitarian sector: a guidance note

PI collaborated with the Centre for Humanitarian Data, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and UN Global Pulse to develop a guidance notes on risk assessments for humanitarian practitioners.

Advocacy

Response to the ACCC's Statement of Issues on the Google/Fitbit merger

Following PI's submission in March 2020, the Australian regulator has decided to conduct an in-depth investigation into the Google/Fitbit merger. We have responded to some of their concerns.

News & Analysis

New Report on “The Use of Biometric Data to Identify Terrorists: Best Practice or Risky Business?"

Key findings of the report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Prof. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin and Dr. Krisztina Huszti-Orbán on the Use of Biometric Data to Identify Terrorists

Long Read

The looming disaster of immunity passports and digital identity

A digital ID that proves immunity will raise serious human rights issues. And the failure of the digital ID industry to deal with the issues of exclusion, exploitation and discrimination puts the entire industry under question.