[ZenGum]

From New Scientist, the 2007 Government Surveillance Map:


Edited highlights from the story:

The US, the UK, China and Russia are "endemic surveillance societies", according to a recent study ...published by advocacy groups Privacy International of the UK and the Electronic Privacy Information Center in the US.

The UK's has the world's largest network of surveillance cameras, plans for national identity cards rich with personal and biometric information, and little government accountability when personal information is lost.
"This government has access to its people and technology that China doesn't," says Hosein. "It really is that bad here."


The US fell to the bottom rung for the first time this year due to increasing government surveillance and decreasing federal oversight.
The Bush administration was specifically called out for tapping international phone calls and emails without a warrant for those with suspected links to terrorists.

The only country judged to have "adequate safeguards" was Greece.

Despite their low ratings, the US and UK do not compromise privacy as much as China or Russia, says John Palfrey, of the OpenNet Initiative.

Well, this might get a few folks all riled up.

P.S.: Just noticed ... where is Vietnam? It not even in gray! Maybe we did bomb it right off the map after all.