Simon Davies (privacy advocate)
Encyclopedia
Simon Davies is a privacy
advocate and academic based in London
UK. He was one of the first campaigners in the field of international privacy advocacy, founding the watchdog organization Privacy International
in 1990 and subsequently working in emerging areas of privacy such as electronic visual surveillance, identity systems, border security, encryption policy and biometrics
.
In July 2008 Davies criticised the Stranton landmark Viacom
vs. Google
& YouTube
ruling, stating the privacy of millions of YouTube users was threatened: 'The chickens have come home to roost for Google. Their arrogance and refusal to listen to friendly advice has resulted in the privacy of tens of millions being placed under threat. Governments and organisations are realising that companies like Google have a warehouse full of data. And while that data is stored it is under threat of being used and putting privacy in danger.'
Davies is also listed as current Chief Executive Officer of UK consultancy group 80/20 Thinking Limited
http://www.8020thinking.com.
and the University of Essex
and is currently a visiting senior fellow within the Department of Management of the London School of Economics
(LSE). He is also codirector of the LSE's Policy Engagement Network which is presently researching options for the process stage of the development of a new British constitution.
's Pioneer Award for his contribution to online freedom and in 2007 was made a fellow of the British Computer Society
http://www.bcs.org/.
In both 2004 and 2005 silicon.com voted him as one of the world's 50 most influential people in technology policy.
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
advocate and academic based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
UK. He was one of the first campaigners in the field of international privacy advocacy, founding the watchdog organization Privacy International
Privacy International
Privacy International is a UK-based non-profit organisation formed in 1990, "as a watchdog on surveillance and privacy invasions by governments and corporations." PI has organised campaigns and initiatives in more than fifty countries and is based in London, UK.-Formation, background and...
in 1990 and subsequently working in emerging areas of privacy such as electronic visual surveillance, identity systems, border security, encryption policy and biometrics
Biometrics
Biometrics As Jain & Ross point out, "the term biometric authentication is perhaps more appropriate than biometrics since the latter has been historically used in the field of statistics to refer to the analysis of biological data [36]" . consists of methods...
.
In July 2008 Davies criticised the Stranton landmark Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
vs. Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
& YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
ruling, stating the privacy of millions of YouTube users was threatened: 'The chickens have come home to roost for Google. Their arrogance and refusal to listen to friendly advice has resulted in the privacy of tens of millions being placed under threat. Governments and organisations are realising that companies like Google have a warehouse full of data. And while that data is stored it is under threat of being used and putting privacy in danger.'
Davies is also listed as current Chief Executive Officer of UK consultancy group 80/20 Thinking Limited
80/20 Thinking Limited
80/20 Thinking Limited was launched in January 2008 as a UK based global privacy consultancy specialising in corporate and consumer advice in the fields of privacy, data protection, information security and corporate social responsibility. The company takes its name from the Pareto principle of...
http://www.8020thinking.com.
Academic posts
Davies has been a visiting fellow in law at both the University of GreenwichUniversity of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the...
and the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
and is currently a visiting senior fellow within the Department of Management of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE). He is also codirector of the LSE's Policy Engagement Network which is presently researching options for the process stage of the development of a new British constitution.
Awards
In April 1999 Davies received the Electronic Frontier FoundationElectronic Frontier Foundation
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an international non-profit digital rights advocacy and legal organization based in the United States...
's Pioneer Award for his contribution to online freedom and in 2007 was made a fellow of the British Computer Society
British Computer Society
The British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
http://www.bcs.org/.
In both 2004 and 2005 silicon.com voted him as one of the world's 50 most influential people in technology policy.