(Thanks Robert Guerra)
> >
> >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.
> >
> > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> >
> >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
> >
>