Law Society privacy rights initiative boosted by Information Commissioner's Office
Date Published: 14-07-2010
Law Society privacy rights initiative boosted by Information Commissioner's Office
A Law Society initiative promoting the right to privacy and the dangers that arise from the creation of a surveillance society has been welcomed by the Information Commissioner.
The Information Commissioner's Office [ICO] is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.
It responded very positively to the consultation on setting up a Privacy Rights Centre www.privacyrightscentre.org in the UK. Concern about the impact on personal privacy as a result of the intensification of surveillance in recent years and the implications for the rule of law prompted the Law Society and Privacy International (PI) to propose the privacy rights centre.
The Centre will work closely alongside the legal profession, rights advocates and the community to make a real difference to the recognition and enforcement of the right to privacy. The unique initiative involves developing a co-ordination centre for pro bono privacy advice, advocacy and legal action to uphold the rule of law and the rights of the individual against injustices caused by the use of oppressive surveillance technologies in the UK and abroad.
The Law Society is delighted that the ICO has welcomed this key initiative, which was launched this summer by outgoing Law Society President Robert Heslett. The ICO welcomed the Privacy Rights Centre as a very positive development for individuals in asserting their rights to data privacy.
The initiative is being developed to strengthen privacy rights law in the UK and abroad and influence public policy debates. It was put forward by Privacy International (PI) in response to the Law Society President’s 'surveillance and the rule of law’ initiative. The centre will safeguard individual rights under future governments.
At the conclusion of the Presidents' series of seminars exploring the theme of 'surveillance and the rule of law' with leading activists, academics and lawyers the President reaffirmed the importance of effective judicial and legislative oversight of the growing surveillance powers of the State and private corporations. Robert Heslett has called again for national debate about the proper balance to be struck between the social and commercial benefits of surveillance and individuals' reasonable expectations of privacy.
Law Society President, Robert Heslett, said, "The 'surveillance and the rule of law’ seminars have played a significant role in initiating professional collaboration between policy makers, technologists and lawyers in developing new information systems that could have an impact on personal privacy. I am particularly grateful for the involvement of the BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT - in these discussions, which I hope will continue."
The President expressed his gratitude to those who participated in the 'surveillance and the rule of law’ seminars, including the Information Commissioner's Office, and acknowledged the contributions of those involved in establishing the Privacy Rights Centre and the leading role of Simon Davies and Gus Hosein of Privacy International.
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Privacy International has developed a dedicated website for the initiative http://www.privacyrightscentre.org/ . An advisory group involving the Law Society, PI and law firms are developing a prospectus for the centre, which will identify founder members and sponsors . It will outline how the centre will operate and will call for further expressions of support, members and sponsorship including development of the longer-term financial plan to ensure its continuing viability.
Privacy International and the Law Society are calling for lawyers and activists to become involved in the centre, whose work will include dealing with cutting-edge issues and seeking redress to discourage routine privacy violations.
To view the Law Society President's announcement and background information about the proposal, including material on relevant surveillance and privacy laws and technology, go to http://www.privacyrightscentre.org/
Privacy International (PI) is a human rights group formed in 1990 as a watchdog on surveillance and privacy invasions by governments and corporations. To find out more go to: http://www.privacyinternational.org/
For more information on the Information Commissioner's Office go to http://www.ico.gov.uk/ and for the British Computer Society [The Chartered Institute for IT], which promotes wider social and economic progress through the advancement of information technology science and practice, visit http://www.bcs.org/
Journalists can contact the Law Society Press Office on 020 7320 5902 or Simon Davies, Director of Privacy International, on 0795 846 6552 or simon@privacy.org
