Privacy International

Privacy International, a registered UK charity (No. 1147471), was founded in 1990 and was the first organisation to campaign at an international level on privacy issues. Privacy International is committed to fighting for the right to privacy across the world. It investigates the secret world of government surveillance and expose the companies enabling it; litigate to ensure that surveillance is consistent with the rule of law; advocate for strong national, regional, and international laws that protect privacy; conduct research to catalyse policy change; raise awareness about technologies and laws that place privacy at risk, to ensure that the public is informed and engaged.

To ensure that this right is universally respected, PI strengthen the capacity of its partners in developing countries and work with international organisations to protect the most vulnerable.

Privacy International envisions a world in which the right to privacy is protected, respected, and fulfilled. Privacy is essential to the protection of autonomy and human dignity, serving as the foundation upon which other human rights are built. In order for individuals to fully participate in the modern world, developments in law and technologies must strengthen and not undermine the ability to freely enjoy this right.

Joint statement: Finding the good in the first UN General Assembly resolution on artificial intelligence
Joint statement: Finding the good in the first UN General Assembly resolution on artificial intelligence 10 April 2024 Various

Stakeholders far from UN grounds benefit when states clarify their position on new and emerging technologies and how international law, including international human rights law, and sustainable development commitments apply to fields like artificial intelligence.

Open letter to the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime
Open letter to the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime 09 February 2024 Various

Organisations spanning civil society, industry and the technical community, including APC, urge governments to consider withholding support for the draft UN cybercrime treaty in its current incarnation. If adopted without major changes, this treaty's risks far outweigh its potential benefits.

Joint civil society letter calling to ensure live online modalities of participation for UN human rights bodies and mechanisms
Joint civil society letter calling to ensure live online modalities of participation for UN human rights bodies and mechanisms 06 February 2024 Various

Over 200 organisations including APC sent a joint letter to UN representatives calling on them to ensure live online modalities of participation for UN human rights bodies and mechanisms, in light of concerns regarding civil society access and participation in these spaces.

Online Safety Bill: Civil society organisations urge UK to protect global digital security and safeguard private communication
Online Safety Bill: Civil society organisations urge UK to protect global digital security and safeguard private communication 27 June 2023 Various

This open letter to the UK government from over 80 national and international civil society organisations, including APC, academics and cyberexperts raises concerns about the serious threat to the security of private and encrypted messaging posed by the Online Safety Bill.

Over 100 public interest organisations and experts urge the UN to include human rights safeguards in proposed cybercrime convention
Over 100 public interest organisations and experts urge the UN to include human rights safeguards in proposed cybercrime convention 23 December 2021 Various

A joint letter urges members of the UN Ad Hoc Committee drafting a potential Cybercrime Treaty to ensure that human rights protections are included at every step and global civil society is provided opportunities to participate in the development process.

Joint NGO letter urging EU targeted sanctions against NSO Group
Joint NGO letter urging EU targeted sanctions against NSO Group 03 December 2021 Various

Following revelations that Israeli NSO Group’s Pegasus Spyware was used to hack the devices of six Palestinian human rights activists, we urge the EU to take serious and effective measures against NSO Group, including its designation under the EU’s global human rights sanctions regime.

Global Encryption Day statement
Global Encryption Day statement 21 October 2021 Various

On Global Encryption Day, APC joined with over 150 other organisations to call on governments and the private sector to reject efforts to undermine encryption and instead pursue policies that enhance, strengthen and promote use of strong encryption to protect people everywhere.

Urgent call to action: HRC 48 joint NGO letter on Pegasus
Urgent call to action: HRC 48 joint NGO letter on Pegasus 01 October 2021 Various

APC and other civil  society organisations call on UN Human Rights Council (HRC) member states to take urgent action at the ongoing 48th HRC session to denounce the unfolding and unprecedented scale of human rights violations by states facilitated by the use of the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware.

India: Spyware use violates Supreme Court privacy ruling
India: Spyware use violates Supreme Court privacy ruling 01 September 2021 Various

Eleven groups, including APC, call on Indian authorities to immediately, independently and credibly investigate the government’s alleged use of advanced spyware to target activists and apparent opponents.

Open letter to TECNO Mobile
Open letter to TECNO Mobile 19 August 2021 Various

APC and several APC member organisations in Africa form part of a coalition of 11 civil society organisations that have called on TECNO to make serious changes to its practices to protect users' privacy and security.

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