Covid-19 controls turn Asia into global surveillance hotspot, analysts say

A pair of security cameras along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront across Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, China. The pandemic has enabled authorities to increase surveillance and clamp down on free speech, digital rights experts say. — Bloomberg

KUALA LUMPUR: Asia has become the world’s surveillance hotspot and is at risk of serious privacy breaches as measures rolled out to contain the spread of Covid-19 become permanent in many countries, researchers warned on Oct 1.

The Right to Privacy Index (RPI) published by British-based risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, rated 198 countries for privacy violations stemming from mass surveillance operations, retention of personal data, home searches and other breaches.