Surveillance Seminar

Researchers working on surveillance:

Seminar: 'Surveillance in Scotland: Current Practices and Future Prospects'

The University of Edinburgh's Public Policy Network and the Scottish Regional Office of the (UK) Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) are pleased to invite you to a one-day seminar on Friday, 5th October 2007 on the nature, extent and diversity of surveillance practices, systems and technologies in the private and public sectors, including the collection and sharing of personal information and databases, as well as video surveillance, DNA and biometric identification systems, and many other forms of monitoring people's movement, habits and behaviour.

Surveillance has become an important and controversial public issue as the needs of commerce and government press forward to use citizens' and customers' personal information for a host of purposes, including marketing, banking, law enforcement, counter-terrorism, and the delivery of public services. Questions of privacy and civil liberties are implicated in these developments. The aim of the seminar is to inform and to encourage a wider public debate about these issues, especially as they affect daily life in Scotland now and in the future.

Drawing upon the widely acclaimed report, 'A Surveillance Society', specially commissioned from the Surveillance Studies Network (SSN) by the Information Commissioner's Office (available at http://www.ico.gov.uk/about_us/news_and_views/current_topics/Surveillance_society_report.aspx), the seminar will feature presentations by authors of the SSN report and the ICO, as well as by representatives of Scottish Government, ICO, the police, and the worlds of industry, politics and human rights protection. The seminar will be held at the University's Moray House College of Education, Holyrood Campus, from 9. 30 am to 4 pm on the 5th October. There is no charge for attendance at the seminar, which will include a buffet lunch. Details of the venue and programme will be circulated by e-mail to those attending.

Attendance will be limited, so to secure your place please RSVP to the Information Commissioner's Office at Scotland@ico.gsi.gov.uk before the 24th September.

Professor Charles Raab (PPN, University of Edinburgh) Dr. Ken Macdonald (ICO)