Privacy International (PI) is a London-based non-profit, non-governmental organisation that researches and advocates globally for legal and technological solutions to protect people and their data from government and corporate abuses.
To achieve this aim, the organisation engages in a wide range of activities including: research, litigation, and advocacy. PI challenges overreaching state and corporate surveillance so that people everywhere can have greater security and freedom through greater personal privacy. Within its range of activities, PI investigates how peoples’ personal data is generated and exploited, and how it can be protected through legal and technological frameworks. The organisation understands the right to privacy, including data protection, is essential for the enjoyment of all human rights in the digital age.
Privacy International has published reports analysing various privacy intrusive technologies from communications interference to biometric technologies, such as mobile phone extraction, facial recognition technologies and others. It has also produced key reference tools on international human rights standards, such as PI’s Guide to International Law and Surveillance. It has made multiple submissions to the United Nations on the impact of technologies and data exploitation on the rights to privacy and data protection, as well as other human rights in general and against specific groups, such as migrants. It has advised and reported to international organisations including: the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Refugee Agency, the World Health Organisation, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
