EPIC and Privacy International Release Annual Privacy Report

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and Privacy International released the 2002 edition of their annual survey on the state of privacy in over fifty countries, titled "Privacy and Human Rights 2002: An International Survey of Privacy Laws and Developments" (the "Report"). The Report outlines legal protections for privacy and summarizes issues and events relating to privacy and surveillance. A major focus of this Report is the effects of September 11, 2001 on privacy and civil liberties. Also discussed is the adoption of the European Union's Electronic Communications Privacy Directive in June 2002. The Directive permits EU member states to "enact laws requiring Internet Service Providers, and other telecommunications operators, to retain the traffic and location data of all people using mobile phones, text messaging, land-line telephones, faxes, e-mails, chat rooms, the Internet, or any other electronic communication devices, to communicate." For a copy of the Report, visit: http://www.privacyinternational.org/survey/phr2002 Electronic Privacy Information Center. Privacy International.