Data Protection Principles — The Data Protection Principles are eight guiding principles defined in the The Data Protection Act 1998 that are intended to ensure that information is processed securely, accurately, and with regard to the wishes of the data subjects to whom the information relates. Data controllers must apply the principles as part of their use of information otherwise they can be investigated or prosecuted by the office of the Data Protection Commissioner.

11 Mar 09 Victory for privacy activists

Draft legislation allowing widespread sharing of personal data among government agencies, bypassing the Data Protection Act, has now been changed after a campaign by Privacy International and other groups.

11 Jun 08 Is your data safe in their hands?

=Census Alert logoHelp stop the 2011 census being run by an arms company with close links to the United States government.

4 Aug 06 MPs critical of ID cards plan.

A Commons Science and Technology Committee report finds that Home Office consultation on its proposed biometric identity cards programme has been too restricted and its cost estimates may be unreliable.

2 Oct 08 Skyped out in China

Recent report reveals the scale of Chinese police surveillance of Skype and Tom-Skype text chats.

4 Feb 05 ID cards may breach human rights, say MPs.

The joint parliamentary committee on human rights states: “The information which the bill envisages will be held on the register allows for significant intrusion into private life.”

23 Apr 04 Privacy International has filed a complaint

about Google’s Gmail service with Privacy and Data Protection Commissions internationally.

10 Jun 08 Taking your laptop to the US?

Internet RIghts Project logo
Be sure to hide all your data first…

22 Sep 06 Free anonymising browser debuts.

Web users worried about privacy can now use a modified version of Firefox that lets them browse the net anonymously. The Torpark browser uses technology backed by digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It has been created by Hacktivismo – an international coalition of hackers, human rights workers, lawyers and artists.

17 Dec 04 Freedom of Information deadline looms.

But the public sector isn’t sufficiently prepared, says a Whitehall report.

16 Mar 07 Google decides to anonymise users search data

- the decision is welcomed by privacy groups as a step forward, but the data will only be anonymised after after 18 to 24 months

30 Mar 06 ID cards to be issued in three years after Lords drops its opposition.

The House of Lords accepted the amendment that anyone applying for a new biometric passport before January 2010 could opt out of having an ID card. See the latest on campaigning against ID cards and databases in the UK.

13 Jan 06 ISPs, telcos and police voice fears over data retention cost.

European legislation on data retention has been criticised for not putting the question of who pays the cost of retaining data into law, instead relying on informal negotiations between individual ISPs, telcos and the Home Office.

10 Dec 04 Manchester police sideswipe at journalistic freedom.

TV Producer alleges he was held for murder so police could access controversial files.

9 Jun 06 Stars join Observer/Amnesty fight to free web.

Various stars, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu are among nearly 20,000 people who have backed the Observer and Amnesty International campaign to end repression on the internet. This remarkable response to the launch of irrepressible.info included support from around the world.

Network news and actions

19 Nov 09 Sh!t Matters

– especially on World Toilet Day. CLTS is using the opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable and safe sanitation systems around the world.

17 Nov 09 Delays show fragility of Nigeria's oil delta amnesty

YENEGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) – Nigeria has yet to begin the process of educating and reintegrating thousands of former militants in the oil-producing Niger Delta, prompting some to question their decision to lay down arms for clemency.

14 Oct 09 Twitter can't be gagged: online outcry over Guardian/Trafigura order

Trafigura, a London-based oil trader connected with dumping toxic waste in Ivory Coast in 2006, was the most used word on micro-blogging site Twitter this morning.

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