Conference report: "Privacy, security & surveillance: tackling dilemmas & dangers in the digital realm" (Wilton Park, Nov 2014)
Conference report: "Privacy, security and surveillance: tackling dilemmas and dangers in the digital realm", Jan 2015
[conference was held 17-19 November 2014]
The...conference brought together international experts from government, business and civil society to discuss the challenges of privacy, security and surveillance in the digital realm and to explore possible ways forward. The discussion included export control, mass surveillance and the challenges business operations face in high-risk countries...There is an urgent need to address the issue of data collection and retention by governments and companies...The expectations and responsibilities of companies in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, in relation to both users and governments, should be examined as a matter of priority.
Key issues [include]:
- Surveillance technologies created and manufactured in Europe have been used by governments with a poor record on human rights... As a result, more states now have the technical capability to conduct surveillance...
- It is widely felt that export controls and regulations governing the sale of surveillance technology are being outpaced by technological developments. National and regional bodies, including the European Union, will need to act swiftly in order to update regulations governing surveillance exports.
- Companies and governments need to be more transparent.
[Includes sections on "Context and challenges for business", "How can a company use its leverage effectively?". Refers to Microsoft, Vodafone]