Privacy International
Privacy International (From here out known as PI) is a site that serves as a “watchdog” of privacy and surveillance invasions. Verbatim from their mission statement, you know they are intense and zealous about personal privacy.
Basically, this organization monitors and keeps an eye on things that keep an eye on us, and if they step out of line, PI is there to put them back in their place. In addition to that, they hope to educate Internet goers about the dangers and precautions they need to take in their virtual homes. They also do independent research on emerging technologies and how these can be utilized to bolster the protection of individuals. They even go to different legislative bodies throughout the world and make different presentations and try to spark reform.
All of this is accomplished by a vast website that holds all of the information pertinent to their ideology and concerns. Upon entrance of the site, you instantly see articles and other sections devoted to happenings in the now around the globe related to privacy and surveillance. If you are looking to research a particular subject or area of concern, there is a convenient box in the left side of the screen that meticulously sorts all articles of a particular subject and arranges them in a neat, easy-to-access fashion. Let’s say you are interested in the fight against terrorism and new developments in it, there is a news column titled “Anti-Terrorism” that is just what you need, and there are many more for a myriad of subjects.
Privacy International represents a hope that all is not lost in the everlasting battle for privacy. In this day and age, when personal privacy sometimes seems like a ideal of long ago, someone has to stand up and fight. Privacy International is doing just that, and it isn’t waiting for people to report injustice, it is proactive and goes and finds it and dogs it out, just like a watchdog would.
PI’s website is laid in an easily navigable fashion. On the main page are links to every part of the site. Also, all of the recent articles and documents can be found here. Directly to the left are awards and other garnishes Privacy International has been awarded. Near that is the aforementioned “Areas” section that is a godsend when trying to find one specific article in the sea of articles that they publish. Luckily, they catalogue all of them neatly and keep all of them so they can be referred to later.
Privacy International was formed in 1990 when the world became cognizant of the massive amount of unauthorized and unmerited surveillance and reconnaissance that was being performed without people knowing. With this new epiphany, and the fear that came with it, something had to be done: people’s First Amendment and Privacy Rights were being violated. In response to this invasion of privacy, more than one hundred human rights and privacy experts from forty countries commiserated and formed the Privacy International. Although the organization was disorganized as any fledging organization would be, within a couple of years they were on their feet and fighting privacy invasions, and becoming the “watchdog.” To date, they have published more than thirty major reports and have been awarded many garnishes for their valiant and philanthropic efforts.
Privacy International operates solely off of user contributions. You wouldn’t think so though, for sites like this are usually begging you to help them out as soon as you log onto the site. Privacy International makes no mention of their non-profit status, and only if you wish, you can visit the contributions page and donate some money. There is no obligation, and you aren’t even alerted of the site’s charity department until you surf and find it yourself. While it doesn’t hurt to have a company beg you for money, it sure is annoying, and you will find none of that on Privacy International.
In order to get more involved or get more information from Privacy International, one has to go no further than their main page. Right at the top is an option to donate, get more information, or even look them up on different sites. PI knows that some people don’t like to get their information from different sites, so they hooked up on both FaceBook and Twitter. This way you don’t have to leave your social site to get the latest scoop on offending organizations and how to protect yourself. On the main page directly to the left, you will see a couple of images: “Support PI”, “Privacy and Human Rights”, etc. These will allow you to visit sites affiliated with Privacy International, and even give you links to some things that PI runs. For example, the “Stupid Security” awards; what security programs are the most convoluted and do anything but make you secure.
If you are looking for a place to become more educated about privacy invasions, and the full extent of your First Amendment rights, look no further than http://www.privacyinternational.org/. This organization is fighting for your rights every day, and would be a wise source to bulk up on your Internet knowledge and security know-how. They patrol the Internet searching with intense conviction to find any evil-doers who threaten to compromise your privacy and get them before they get you. Visit the home of the “watchdog” today, and be prepared (sorry McGruff) to take a bite out of crime.
