[I have the honor of being a judge in this competition. Please send your suggestions to stupidsecurityat_private --Declan] --- Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 16:37:47 +0000 To: Declan McCullagh <declanat_private> From: Simon Davies <s.g.daviesat_private> 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 stupidsecurityat_private 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 simonat_private and in the UK on 07958 466 552 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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