Modernise the Rule of Law and Strengthen Surveillance Safeguards

Around the world, Privacy International is fighting against the most intrusive surveillance laws and campaigning to make sure they protect people’s privacy.

What PI is doing

Through research, campaigning, and strategic litigation, and by working at the international level, such as at the United Nations and the European Union, PI is:

Taking on some of the most powerful and secretive agencies and countering precedent-setting laws.
Challenging laws and practices in strategically-chosen countries to ensure the maximum possible impact in our global fight for surveillance reform.
Promoting laws to make surveillance accountable, transparent, subject to oversight, and in line with human rights requirements.

Featured Content

Long Read

European and African continents with spider webs

“When Spiders Share Webs”: Unveiling privacy threats of EU-funded INTERPOL policing programme in West Africa

An insight to our briefing “When Spiders Share Webs” that explores the role the EU-funded INTERPOL programme, the West African Police Information System (WAPIS), in externalising EU borders by transferring interoperable data-driven policing capabilities to West African nations.

Long Read

Your NEW guide to surveillance human rights standards is here

A glimpse into what you can find in the new version of PI’s Guide to International Law and Surveillance. From surveillance of public spaces to spyware and encryption, it’s got everything!

Advocacy

New historic judgment: Members of José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective v Colombia

New historic judgment by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights declaring the Republic of Colombia internationally responsible for human rights violations, including privacy, against several members of a human rights defenders groups and their relatives

Advocacy

UN Human Rights Committee urges United Kingdom to respect the right to privacy

On 3rd May, 2024, the Human Rights Committee (HRC), the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) issued its concluding observations on the eighth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ahead of the HRC’s review of the UK, PI had made a submission highlighting key concerns in relation to the current UK communications’ surveillance regime and the proposal for its reform; the surveillance of migrants; and the surveillance of peaceful assemblies.