Ireland guilty of “systemic failure” to protect privacy – Privacy International
Ireland continues to suffer from a systemic failure to protect privacy, according to the new report of watchdog Privacy International on Leading surveillance societies in the EU and the World 2007.
Their 2007 Report is a comprehensive document based on a survey of 47 countries and consultation with over 200 experts worldwide. Countries are assessed based on their privacy record and laws in relation to areas such as identity cards, biometrics, workplace surveillance and democratic safeguards. Despite having a generally good track record on privacy in many areas, Ireland overall receives the third lowest grade – systemic failure to protect privacy – based largely on Ireland’s excessive data retention laws, the government’s failure to protect privacy at EU level, excessive use of PPS numbers, and the planned introduction of automatic number plate recognition without adequate safeguards.
We were privileged to be able to work with Privacy International in drawing up their national report on Ireland, and we believe that it is unacceptable that our Government should continue to undermine the right to privacy in this way. If you agree with us you can click here to send a prepared email to the Minister for Justice – you need only fill in your name and [optional] address – asking what he plans to do to remedy the flaws identified in the Privacy International report.
