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8 years in coming, this day saw the first annual
"Big Brother" Awards. The event was organised by Privacy International
and the awards were presented by comedian Mark Thomas. This website
contains information about the recipients of the awards and images
and video clips from the event itself. The event was directed by
Simon Davies who has written a report.
We also have information on this years 'Corporate Sponsors', a requirement
for any awards ceremony, Killing Secrets.
There were two sets of awards, The 'Big Brothers'
which commemorated the companies and organisations which have made
the biggest contributions to making George Orwell's vision a reality
and the 'Winstons' which rewarded those who have dared to resist.
The Big Brothers were awarded in 5 categories as follows:
| Corporate
Award |
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Procurement Services
International
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| Local Government
Award |
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Newham Council for their Mandrake
Initiative
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| National
Government Award |
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The DTI
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| Product
Award |
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Software by Harlequin
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| Lifetime
Achievement Award |
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Menwith Hill
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The People's Choice Winner was Jack Straw for invasion
of privacy above and beyond the call of duty. Justifications include
the Police Act, treatment of asylum seekers, extension of police
powers and information gathering practices, secret activities within
the European K4 (Justice and Home Affairs) Committee, and the development
of "conflict management" strategies that allow police to store information
on protesters, travellers or anybody else they believe may threaten
public order.
The Organising Body
Privacy
International (PI) was formed in 1990 as a non-government
watchdog on surveillance and privacy invasion. The organisation has
campaigned throughout the world on dozens of issues ranging from
identity cards and encryption policy, to workplace surveillance and
military intelligence. PI's membership includes IT specialists,
lawyers, judges and journalists from fourty countries.
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