Privacy and Surveillance: U.S. ranked worst in democratic world

C

Cypress

Well-known member
In Harper's, Scott Horton has the damning word:

What do Vladimir Putin, George W. Bush and Hu Jintao have in common? They are the heads of the three most significant nations whose people live under “endemic surveillance”—that is to say, whose governments have a penchant for aggressively spying on their own people. Let’s just call their realms Eurasia, Oceania and East Asia.
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Privacy International and the Electronic Privacy Information Center together created a system for measuring nations' civil liberties. As Horton puts it, there is no surprise in learning that nations recently freed from Communism are most careful about protecting them. Except for Russia, of course. And, of course, the strong U.S. tradition of protecting civil liberties has been abandoned, under Bush.

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http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/01/hbc-90002084
 
No, actually, Britian would be the worst in the Democratic world. Russia would be even worse if you could consider it Democratic, but I don't.
 
I remember blackflag (who evidently lived all over the world) slapping down some pseudo libertarians, who were always claiming that we were the "freest" nation on earth.
 
M*therf*cker.

Greece is more vigilant that us in safeguarding privacy and civil liberties. They evidently had the best ranking in europe

GREECE

* Article 9 of the constitution recognises the right to privacy in the home, and data protection (since amendment), Article 19 for communications privacy
* Comprehensive privacy law
* Data Privacy Authority is independent, led by high ranking official, and may impose administrative or penal sanctions that include imprisonment; a history of controversial but important rulings, covering ID, CCTV, DNA, and workplace surveillance
* CCTV was permitted for the Olympics on the condition that they be de-activated after the games; but this was continued for a further six months to monitor car traffic circulation, and was then extended to 2007, but also fined the police for a breach
* Infamous wiretapping case involving Vodafone and ministers' communications, led to a 76m EUR fine for Vodafone
 
Cypress said:
I remember blackflag (who evidently lived all over the world) slapping down some pseudo libertarians, who were always claiming that we were the "freest" nation on earth.
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When I hear people debate what nations are "freest" privacy issues isn't usually at the top of the list. That's not to say privacy issues aren't important but is that the issue to determine a nation's freedom?
 
cawacko said:
When I hear people debate what nations are "freest" privacy issues isn't usually at the top of the list. That's not to say privacy issues aren't important but is that the issue to determine a nation's freedom?
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that's true. we have more freedom to have guns. second amendment.
 
"The makers of the Constitution conferred the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by all civilized men—the right to be let alone."

-JUSTICE LOUIS D. BRANDEIS
 
Cypress said:
M*therf*cker.

Greece is more vigilant that us in safeguarding privacy and civil liberties. They evidently had the best ranking in europe

GREECE

* Article 9 of the constitution recognises the right to privacy in the home, and data protection (since amendment), Article 19 for communications privacy
* Comprehensive privacy law
* Data Privacy Authority is independent, led by high ranking official, and may impose administrative or penal sanctions that include imprisonment; a history of controversial but important rulings, covering ID, CCTV, DNA, and workplace surveillance
* CCTV was permitted for the Olympics on the condition that they be de-activated after the games; but this was continued for a further six months to monitor car traffic circulation, and was then extended to 2007, but also fined the police for a breach
* Infamous wiretapping case involving Vodafone and ministers' communications, led to a 76m EUR fine for Vodafone
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Compare Greece to U.S.

U.S.

* No right to privacy in constitution, though search and seizure protections exist in 4th Amendment; case law on government searches has considered new technology
* No comprehensive privacy law, many sectoral laws; though tort of privacy
* FTC continues to give inadequate attention to privacy issues, though issued self-regulating privacy guidelines on advertising in 2007
* State-level data breach legislation has proven to be useful in identifying faults in security
* REAL-ID and biometric identification programs continue to spread without adequate oversight, research, and funding structures
* Extensive data-sharing programs across federal government and with private sector
* Spreading use of CCTV
* Congress approved presidential program of spying on foreign communications over U.S. networks, e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, etc.; and now considering immunity for telephone companies, while government claims secrecy, thus barring any legal action
* No data retention law as yet, but equally no data protection law
* World leading in border surveillance, mandating trans-border data flows
* Weak protections of financial and medical privacy; plans spread for 'rings of steel' around cities to monitor movements of individuals
* Democratic safeguards tend to be strong but new Congress and political dynamics show that immigration and terrorism continue to leave politicians scared and without principle
* Lack of action on data breach legislation on the federal level while REAL-ID is still compelled upon states has shown that states can make informed decisions
* Recent news regarding FBI biometric database raises particular concerns as this could lead to the largest database of biometrics around the world that is not protected by strong privacy law
 
Socrtease said:
"The makers of the Constitution conferred the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by all civilized men—the right to be let alone."

-JUSTICE LOUIS D. BRANDEIS
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IF they're enforced and upheld.

The US had no "right to privacy" in the constitution, as many Cons always remind us when we talk about abortion, and law enforcement survelliance.
 
cawacko said:
so that's it? the number of people who risk life and limb to come to the U.S. do it because we have more freedom to have guns?
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Risking life and limb? Then you must be talking about people coming here from third world countries and developing nations. Nations that, of course, have limited civil liberties.

This study is primarily comparing the US to other developed nations. I don't think there a massive wave of immigrants coming here from Norway and Denmark.
 
I scanned some of the prez candidates websites issues link, and some of them like Barak Obama and John McCain didn't have anything on privacy issues. I don't even think McCain had a link at all to civil liberties.

I found two candidates who did prominently address privacy issues:


JOHN EDWARDS

Protect Americans' Privacy and Freedom

Our government should protect the privacy, communications, and personal records of Americans—not spy on them without court supervision as the Bush Administration has done. Edwards will end the warrantless wiretapping of Americans' phone calls and e-mails and the data-mining of Americans' communications and personal records, restoring judicial review to surveillance of American citizens. He rejects retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies. He will fix the Patriot Act by restoring important safeguards to the provisions most susceptible to abuse: the "sneak-and-peek" delayed-notice searches, National Security Letters, and the business and library records provisions. He will also end racial profiling by law enforcement.


RON PAUL

The biggest threat to your privacy is the government. We must drastically limit the ability of government to collect and store data regarding citizens’ personal matters.We must stop the move toward a national ID card system. All states are preparing to issue new driver’s licenses embedded with “standard identifier” data — a national ID. A national ID with new tracking technologies means we’re heading into an Orwellian world of no privacy. I voted against the Real ID Act in March of 2005.

To date, the privacy focus has been on identity theft. It was Congress that created this danger by mandating use of the standard identifier (currently your SSN) in the private sector. For example, banks use SSNs as customer account identifiers because the government requires it.

We must also protect medical privacy. Right now, you’re vulnerable. Under so-called “medical privacy protection” rules, insurance companies and other entities have access to your personal medical information.
 
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Says:





Risking life and limb? Then you must be talking about people coming here from third world countries and developing nations. Nations that, of course, have limited civil liberties.

This study is primarily comparing the US to other developed nations. I don't think there a massive wave of immigrants coming here from Norway and Denmark.
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You're dodging the question Mr. McMullet. Economic freedom is what our thirsty friend here is referring to.
 
Just for sake of clarity, this isn't a measure of "freedom" but a measure of privacy and surveillance of citizens.

I imagine the US ranks quite highly on so-called economic freedom measures, the only measure of freedom that many so-called libertarians care about, but as far as the freedom to be left alone we rank quite poorly.
 
Dungheap said:
I imagine the US ranks quite highly on so-called economic freedom measures, the only measure of freedom that many so-called libertarians care about, but as far as the freedom to be left alone we rank quite poorly.
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Yea, that's the ONLY freedom us libertarians care about. Go to your room and argue with your stuffed animals.
 
yes, good point dungheap. I almost said that to cawacko, that economic opportunity in this country is quite good. But, I wasn't sure if economic opportunity is quite the same as individual freedom. But, I suppose it could be.
 
Beefy said:
Yea, that's the ONLY freedom us libertarians care about. Go to your room and argue with your stuffed animals.
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Maybe you consider yourself a "so-called libertarian" but I didn't characterize you thusly. Guilty conscience my friend? I was commenting on some of your fellow travellers.
 
Dungheap said:
Maybe you consider yourself a "so-called libertarian" but I didn't characterize you thusly. Guilty conscience my friend? I was commenting on some of your fellow travellers.
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Very few people who identify themselves as "libertarian" have no concern for privacy rights and civil liberty, and "only care about economic freedom". Can you point out some of these individuals to me?

Consider yourself skewered.
 
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