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ISSUES: Privacy
Key facts
Key Facts
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Over 100 countries now have some form of privacy and
data protection law. (page 2)
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Article 8 protects your right to respect for your
private life, your family life, your home and your
correspondence (letters, telephone calls and emails,
for example). (page 3)
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Everywebsite you visit, the fact of every communication
you make, and every mobile app that connects to
the internet can now be logged, recorded and made
accessible to the Government. (page 6)
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The Investigatory Powers Bill [enhances] the spying
powers open to police, intelligence agencies and
public bodies and will provide strong legal backing
for “bulk” collection (and hacking) of communications.
(page 7)
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The first ever legally-binding international treaty
dealing with privacy and data protection was the
signing of Convention 108 on January 28, 1981 by the
Council of Europe. (page 9)
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The newly enforced Investigatory Powers Bill gives
48 government agencies access to your internet
connection records; a log of which internet services
you’ve accessed. These include which websites you’ve
visited and even when you’ve used instant messaging
apps. (19)
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The use of CCTV in the UK, and its impact on human
rights and civil liberties, regularly hits the headlines.
Concerns are raised both about the number of CCTV
cameras in the UK and the lack of regulation regarding
their use. (page 25)
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Most people (53%) say that, specifically, phone and
internet companies should be required to retain
everyone’s internet browsing history, emails, voice
calls, social media interactions, and mobile messag-
ing, which the police and intelligence agencies would
be able to access for anti-terrorism purposes. 31%
would oppose giving the security forces these powers.
(page 27)
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Research conducted in 2002 suggested that there
were 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the UK – equating to
one CCTV camera for every 14 people. So startling was
this statistic that it has been seized upon by critics of
CCTV ever since. However, this figure was based on an
extrapolation from a survey conducted in one area of
London and now seems likely to be unreliable. (page
25)
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The ICO recommends that users of drones – also called
unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) – with cameras should operate them
in a responsible way to respect the privacy of others.
(page 30)
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The ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) is a term used to describe
devices which can connect via the internet and can
communicate with us and each other. Used efficiently,
these IoT devices could transform the way in which
we live, with technology assisting various tasks and
processes as we go about our daily lives. (page 31)
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Six in ten ‘Internet of Things’ devices don’t properly
tell customers how their personal information is being
used, an international study has found. (page 33)
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A recent report showed that:
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59 per cent of devices failed to adequately explain
to customers how their personal information was
collected, used and disclosed;
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68 per cent failed to properly explain how
information was stored;
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72 per cent failed to explain how customers could
delete their information off the device and
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38 per cent failed to include easily identifiable
contact details if customers had privacy concerns.
(page 33)
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As a newer Internet connected device, smart TVs are
less likely to receive proper security support. This is in
part because users don’t expect them, because of the
variety of different operating systems, and as security
isn’t traditionally the remit of TV manufacturers.
Added to this, users are less likely to use best security
practices when it comes to their TV, such as changing
passwords and regularly updating the software. (page
34)
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A study undertaken in the US by Pew Research found
that 91% of 12- to 17-year-olds posted selfies online,
24% posted videos of themselves. Another 91% were
happy posting their real name, 82% their birthday, 71%
where they live and the school they attend, 53% their
email address and 20% their mobile phone number.
(page 35)
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Given the exponential growth of reality shows and
social media, children now have unprecedented access
to the inner thoughts and personal actions of others.
Children are growing up watching real people freely
share their deep personal ideas, experiences, opinions
and actions. (page 36)
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Mattel’s latest WiFi enabled Barbie doll can easily be
hacked to turn it into a surveillance device for spying
on children and listening into conversations without
the owner’s knowledge. (page 37)
