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3 J.L. & Inf. Sci. 241 (1992)
Constructing an International Watchdog for Privacy and Data Protection: The Evolution of Privacy International

handle is hein.journals/jlinfos3 and id is 239 raw text is: CONSTRUCTING AN INTERNATIONAL WATCHDOG FOR PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION: THE EVOLUTION OF PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL by Simon G Davies1 Abstract While instances of privacy violation throughout the world have increasingly developed common features that are international in nature, privacy advocacy has traditionally been pursued at a national level. The formation of Privacy International (PI) in Washington DC in March 1992 was the first successful attempt to create a global approach to privacy protection. This article explores the origins and structure of the organisation, and discusses some of the challenges recognised by its members. Background The period since the late 1970s has witnessed a steady increase in the passage of privacy and data protection legislation around the world. The OECD2 and Council of Europe 3 privacy principles form the basis of much of this legislation. Although the United Nations has yet to formulate a specific convention on data protection, the European Commission has recently developed a draft directive for application in the private and public sectors.4 Non Government Organisations (NGOs), however, have played only a minor role in the development of international protection of privacy. NGO involvement in privacy protection has hitherto been confined to national responses. Even within their own boundaries, very few countries have developed specialist privacy organisations. Amongst the most prominent and active of these are : The United States Privacy Council,5 The Australian Privacy Foundation,6 Stichting Waakzaamheid Persoonsregistratie (The 1 Honorary Associate, School of Law, University of New South Wales, Director General, Privacy International. 2 Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and transborder flows of personal data. 3 Convention 108, Convention for the protection of individuals with regard to the automatic processing of personal data. 4 The Proposal for a Council Directive concerning the protection of individuals in relation to the processing of personal data was originally put forward in 1990. The amended version of the draft was released in October 1992. 5 A coalition of advocates and experts formed in San Francisco in 1991. 6 An advocacy body formed in Sydney in 1987 to campaign against the proposed national identity card system.

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