Privacy and Human Rights Report 2006: An International Survey of Privacy Laws and Developments

This annual report by EPIC and Privacy International provides an overview of key privacy topics and reviews the state of privacy in over 75 countries around the world. The report outlines legal protections, new challenges, and important issues and events relating to privacy. Privacy and Human Rights 2006 is the most comprehensive report on privacy and data protection ever published. The Privacy and Human Rights 2006 report documents the continued expansion of government surveillance authority. Several countries have pursued new data retention schemes, expanded biometric identification requirements, and intensified international data transfers. The report also finds continuing public opposition to video surveillance, workplace monitoring, and privacy-infringing corporate practices. The 2006 edition survey tracks the adoption of new data protection and open government laws, and includes new country reports for the Middle East, Latin America and cyberspace. The European Court of Human Rights has emerged as a prominent defender of privacy rights. New topics include biometric identification, Internet advertising, and location privacy.