3 November, 2006 - 8:12am

It's great to be a Canadian company, eh? Canada received the highest score of five for its legal limits on the keeping of private data in a study released yesterday on privacy protection. The report by London-based Privacy International, ranks countries on various privacy-related issues. Overall, Canada placed second in the world (behind Germany) with signficant privacy protections and safeguards in place. The only two countries to receive that ranking.

In specific categories, Canada scored four in constitutional and statutory protection, privacy enforcement, ID cards and biometrics, leadership in promoting privacy and democratic safeguards.

The indicators measured were across a range of 13 national practices and include whether they have a written constitution with specific mention of privacy, the use of identity cards and biometrics, electronic surveillance including closed-circuit TV cameras, interception of communication, access of law-enforcement agencies to private data, surveillance of travel and financial transactions, and global leadership in promoting privacy.

Britain was rated as an endemic surveillance society, at No. 33, just above Russia and Singapore on a ranking of 37 countries' privacy protections. The United States did only slightly better, at No. 30, ranked between Israel and Thailand, with few safeguards and widespread surveillance, the watchdog group said.

Privacy invasion issues should be a factor when considering identity management and who has access to your data. For example as a Canadian-based company, Sxip Identity, is not subject to the American Patriot Act. Something to ponder when comparing IdM solutions...