FC: Privacy International seeks entries in "stupid security" contest

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[I have the honor of being a judge in this competition. Please send your 
suggestions to stupidsecurity () privacy org. --Declan]

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Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 16:37:47 +0000
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
From: Simon Davies <s.g.davies () lse ac uk>

Hi Declan,

it would be terrific if you could get this out on Politech.

Best wishes

Simon



PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL

ONE WEEK LEFT TO HELP FIND THE WORLD'S MOST STUPID SECURITY MEASURE

Global competition will identify absurd and pointless security requirements
http://www.privacyinternational.org/activities/stupidsecurity/

11th February 2003

Embargo:  Immediate release
The human rights watchdog Privacy International has launched a competition 
to discover the world's most pointless, intrusive, annoying and 
self-serving security measures.

The "Stupid Security" award aims to highlight the absurdities of the 
security industry. Privacy International's director, Simon Davies, said his 
group had taken the initiative because of "innumerable" security 
initiatives around the world that had absolutely no genuine security benefit.

"The situation has become ridiculous" said Mr Davies. "Security has become 
the smokescreen for incompetent and robotic managers the world over".

"I have stood for ages in a security line at an inconsequential office 
building and grilled relentlessly only to be given a security pass that a 
high school student could have faked. And I resent being forced to take off 
my shoes at an airport that can't even screen its luggage" he said.

Even before 9/11 a whole army of bumbling amateurs has taken it upon 
themselves to figure out pointless, annoying, intrusive, illusory and just 
plain stupid measures to "protect" our security.

It has become a global menace. From the nightclub in Berlin that demands 
the home address of its patrons, to the phone company in Britain that won't 
let anyone pay more than twenty pounds a month from a bank account, the 
world has become infested with bumptious administrators competing to hinder 
or harass us. And often for no good reason whatever.

Unworkable security laws and illusory security measures do nothing to help 
issues of real public concern. They only hinder the public and intrude 
unnecessary into our private lives.

Until March 15th 2003 Privacy International is calling for nominations to 
name and shame the worst offenders. Nominations in the form of stories and 
anecdotes are most welcome.

The competition will be judged by a panel of well-known security experts, 
public policy specialists, privacy advocates and journalists.
The competition is open to anyone. Nominations can be sent to 
stupidsecurity () privacy org  Winners will be announced at the 13th 
Computers, Freedom & Privacy conference in New York on April 4th.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

- Privacy International (PI) is a human rights group formed in 1990 as a 
watchdog on surveillance by governments and corporations. PI is based in 
London, and has an office in Washington, D.C.  Together with members in 40 
countries, PI has conducted campaigns throughout the world on issues 
ranging from wiretapping and national security activities, to ID cards, 
video surveillance, data matching, police information systems, and medical 
privacy, and works with a wide range of parliamentary and 
inter-governmental organisations such as the European Parliament, the House 
of Lords and UNESCO.

- PI's website is www.privacyinternational.org The award page can be found 
at:          http://www.privacyinternational.org/activities/stupidsecurity/

- The competition will be judged by a panel of well-known security experts, 
public policy specialists, privacy advocates and journalists. Details are 
on the PI competition page above.

- Simon Davies can be reached at simon () privacy org and in the UK on 07958 
466 552




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