If you are a migrant in the UK, asylum seeker, refugee or working on this issue, you should read this carefully. The new Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (DPDI Bill) is going through parliament and is expected to be passed into law later this year.
The changes in this Bill will exacerbate the existing power imbalances of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers over their data leading to significant harm and negative consequences.
DATA USES AND REUSES
The proposed changes will give the Home Office the power to repurposes the use of personal data to ensure national security and public safety, which means that the data which was handed over by refugees and asylum seekers for a given reason could be used beyond what they consented to or expected, such as for immigration enforcement purposes or sharing data with their home country’s authorities without the need for explicit consent or a thorough assessment of the risks involved.
For refugees and asylum seekers, collecting and processing personal data is crucial to processing their applications and ensuring a successful claim. Still, these changes would put them at risk of persecution or harm if their personal information is shared with their country, undermining their trust in the authorities and discouraging them from seeking help or accessing needed services, such as healthcare, legal aid, or social support programs.
The exemption from the compatibility test also negatively impacts unintended consequences or discriminatory practices. For example, if any organisation or entities use
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