Country Reports

Comparative Global Reports

Mapping communications surveillance laws in Southern Africa (2020)

This report by Media Policy and Democracy Project, Murray Hunter and Admire Mare maps surveillance laws in South Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and eSwatini. This research attempts to map out basic features of communications surveillance laws in 12 southern African countries to assess the extent to which the legal frameworks for digital surveillance meet or fall short of international best practices.

Comparative Analysis of Surveillance Laws and Practices in Latin America (2016)

This report by EFF provides a comparative analysis of surveillance laws in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, with recommendations for a way forward.


  • Argentina

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Argentina (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Argentina's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis types of communication data, companies’ obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Brazil

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Brazil (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Brazil's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis types of communication data, companies’ obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Chile

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Chile (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Chile's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis types of communication data, companies’ obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Colombia

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Colombia (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Colombia's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis types of communication data, companie’s obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Costa Rica

    State Communications Surveillance and the Protection of Fundamental Rights in Costa Rica (2018)

    This report by Access now outlines Costa Rica's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis the types of communication data, companies' obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.(Spanish only)

  • Costa Rica

  • El Salvador

    Digital Privacy for Human Rights Defenders? (2016)

    This report by Fundación Acceso provides a comparative analysis of surveillance laws in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with recommendations for a way forward. (Spanish only).

  • El Salvador

  • Guatemala

    Digital Privacy for Human Rights Defenders? (2016)

    This report by Fundación Acceso provides a comparative analysis of surveillance laws in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with recommendations for a way forward. (Spanish only).

  • Guatemala

  • Honduras

    Digital Privacy for Human Rights Defenders? (2016)

    This report by Fundación Acceso provides a comparative analysis of surveillance laws in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with recommendations for a way forward. (Spanish only).

  • Honduras

  • Mexico

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Mexico (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Mexico's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis the types of communication data, companies' obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Nicaragua

    Digital Privacy for Human Rights Defenders? (2016)

    This report by Fundación Acceso provides a comparative analysis of surveillance laws in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with recommendations for a way forward. (Spanish only).

  • Nicaragua

  • Panama

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Panama (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Panama's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis types of communication data, companies’ obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Panama

  • Paraguay

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Paraguay (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Paraguay’s legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis the types of communication data, companies' obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Peru

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Peru (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Peru's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis the types of communication data, companies' obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Peru

    State Communications Surveillance and the Protection of Fundamental Rights in Peru (2016)

    This report by EFF outlines Peru’s legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis the types of communication data, companies' obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Spain

    The State of Communication and Privacy Law in Spain (2020)

    This report by EFF outlines Spain's legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis types of communication data, companies’ obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.

  • Spain

  • Uruguay

    State Communications Surveillance and the Protection of Fundamental Rights in Uruguay (2016)

    This report by By Fabrizio Scrollini, Ana Tuduri and Katitza Rodríguez outlines Uruguay’s legal framework on government lawful access to communications data in criminal investigations. It provides an overview of the national data protection legal framework, government access laws vis-a-vis the types of communication data, companies' obligations to comply with data requests, and transparency obligations and/or practices.