Austria proposes to seize asylum seekers' devices to check their identities and travel routes

Examples

Date

20th April 2018

In April 2018, the Austrian cabinet agreed on legislation that required asylum seekers would be forced to hand over their mobile devices to allow authorities to check their identities and origins. If they have been found to have entered another EU country first, under the Dublin regulation, they can be sent back there. The number of asylum seekers has dropped substantially since 2016, when measures were taken to close the Balkan route. The bill, which must pass Parliament, also allows the authorities to seize up to €840 to pay for the migrants' upkeep while waiting for their claims to be processed; requires hospitals to disclose when they will be discharged, to facilitate deportations; and will raise the length of time refugees must wait to apply for Austrian citizenship to ten years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43823166

Writer: Bethany Bell
Publication: BBC

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Behavioural analysis

Beyond user control

Data Extraction from Devices

Identity

Lack of transparency

Migration and borders

Related learning resources

Examples of Abuse

What PI is calling for

Data should be protected

Data should be protected from access by persons who are not the user.

Security for all

There should be no barriers to timely fixes in security -- including updates, patches, and workarounds -- particularly considering implications for users of various socio-economic status and citizenship. Security updates should be distinguishable from feature updates.

Austria proposes to seize asylum seekers' devices to check their identities and travel routes

Data should be protected

Security for all

Limit data analysis by design

Control over intelligence

Identities under our control