The human rights organization Privacy International has compiled the list of countries with best and worst surveillance practices, a ranking where several regions analyzed leave their heads down given the methodologies implemented in their territories.
Motivated by concerns about illegal immigration and border controls, world governments have adopted surveillance systems that allow them to manage the entry and exit of their countries. In addition to this situation, criminal cases led to other methods being adopted and, in the end, there was tighter surveillance that, at times, jeopardizes citizens’ privacy.
Among the strategies used worldwide, biometric control, vehicle monitoring, wiretapping, DNA databases, worldwide information sharing agreements and other systems that allow the exchange of information between various entities stand out.
Privacy International reports that among the countries that least take into account the privacy of its inhabitants, the United States, China, Russia, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and England stand out.
On the other hand, Greece stood out as the country that most respects citizens’ privacy, presenting «adequate protections against abuse». In the top places are also Romania and Canada.
Even so, the study concludes that no country fully respects human rights with regard to each other’s privacy.
Related News:
2004-04-01 – EC advances in the case against Portugal for delays in the adoption of the electronic privacy directive
