Government

News & Analysis

IBM (not) ending facial recognition - our quick thoughts

On June 9th, in light of the global debate against racial injustices, the company IBM announced they would stop selling facial recognition. Here are 4 quick-fire thoughts we have on this.

News & Analysis

Why Amazon's temporary ban of police use of facial recognition is not enough

Amazon announced that they will be putting a one-year suspension on sales of its facial recognition tech to law enforcement. Here is why think there is still a long way to go.

News & Analysis

UK government leaflet that reads 'Stay Home Protect The NHS'

Open letter: Tracking and tracing vulnerable populations

We, alongside 6 other organisations, have sent a letter to the government asking them to reconsider the design of the UK NHSx Covid-19 track and trace app.

We are seriously concerned that the app will create exlusion and enhance existing discrimination, gather incomplete data, and won't be as effective as it could be in tackling this virus.

Website collects Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial emergency orders

Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial governments across have put in place numerous emergency measures to curtail behaviour in order to curb the spread of COVID-19. The orders include placing people under quarantine, limiting gatherings, closing schools and businesses, barring most visits to

Long Read

(Sort of) Trust but Verify: Palantir Responds to Questions about its work with NHS

Palantir, the US data giant which works with intelligence and immigration enforcement agencies, has responded to our questions about its work on a highly sensitive National Health Service (NHS) project, providing some assurances, passing the buck to the NHS, and raising additional questions.

Case Study

...it protects our right to protest

You have the right to organize and participate in peaceful meetings.

Case Study

…it protects our property

You have the right to own things. No one has the right to illegally take them from you.

Advocacy

Nurses holding signs that say "We treat patients, not passports"

Covid-19 doesn't discriminate based on immigration status - nor should the Home Office

Privacy International has joined JCWI, Liberty, Medact and other UK civil society organisations to call on Priti Patel, the UK Home Secretary to enact urgent changes to ensure the safety of migrants in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Long Read

😱 This UK Government-Funded AI Programme Wants to Make ‘Face Recognition Ubiquitous’. (But Sure, We're Probably Being Paranoid About Face Surveillance).

Universities in the UK and China, the Met Police, and surveillance companies are working on a government-funded programme developing "unconstrained face recognition technology".

Case Study

…it limits how data can be used against us

You are considered innocent until it can be proved you are guilty according to law. If accused of a crime you have the right to a defence.

Long Read

Kenyan Court Ruling on Huduma Namba Identity System: the Good, the Bad and the Lessons

PI presents its analysis of the Huduma Numba judgment in three parts: the clear wins, the parts that make some small steps forward but could have been better and the dissapointing losses.

Case Study

…it helps us defend ourselves

Trials should be public and tried in a fair manner by an impartial and independent tribunal.

Case Study

…no one can arrest or detain you arbitrarily

Trials should be public and tried in a fair manner by an impartial and independent tribunal.

News & Analysis

PI and Liberty submit a new legal challenge after MI5 admits that vast troves of personal data was held in “ungoverned spaces”

Privacy International (PI) and Liberty have filed on Friday, 31 January 2020, a complaint with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), the judicial body that oversees the intelligence agencies, against MI5 in relation to how they handle vast troves of personal data.

News & Analysis

Why the Huduma Namba ruling matters for the future of digital ID, and not just in Kenya

PI explains why the judgement of the Kenyan High Court's judgement on the Huduma Namba matters globally.

Case Study

…it can ensure that the law is applied in the same manner to everyone

The law is the same for everyone and should be applied in the same manner to all.