UK-based Privacy International, in conjunction with the Electronic Privacy Information Center recently published a world map that rates various nations according to their civil liberties track records.

Unsurprisingly, military heavyweights like the US, UK, Russia and China received the poorest possible ratings for their “endemic surveillance” and lack of privacy safeguards. In contrast, nations like Canada, Romania, Hungary and Argentina received more positive ratings for implementing “some safeguards”, but remain criticized for their “weakened protections”. Ranking number one is Greece, for its ability to provide “adequate safeguards against abuse”.

Key findings of the study include:

1. The 2007 rankings indicate an overall worsening of privacy protection across the world, reflecting an increase in surveillance and a declining performance of privacy safeguards.

2. Concern over immigration and border control dominated the world agenda in 2007. Countries have moved swiftly to implement database, identity and fingerprinting systems, often without regard to the privacy implications for their own citizens

3. The privacy trends have been fueled by the emergence of a profitable surveillance industry dominated by global IT companies and the creation of numerous international treaties that frequently operate outside judicial or democratic processes.

- Douglas Haddow