Less Privacy Overall In ‘07

A new report shows surveillance becoming endemic in several countries.

A 1000-page report compiled by Privacy International and the Electronic Privacy Information Center has revealedconcerns about privacy and surveillance during 2007.   The reports fins that privacy protection has “worsened” and that in more societies than ever, surveillance has become“endemic.”   Of the 47 countries ranked, only Greece, which topped the table, had "adequate safeguards against abuse." Most countries were found to have "somesafeguards but weakened protections."   Compared to 2006, when the count was five, nine countries - England, Wales, Malaysia, China, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the US– were deemed to have “endemic” surveillance, with Britain the worst in Europe.