Advocacy

As the Home Office plans to increase the use of GPS tags for those subject to immigration control, Privacy International has brought a complaint to the Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) regarding systemic failures in relation to the quality and accuracy of data extracted from GPS tags.

Under the Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021, the FSR has statutory powers to uphold standards in forensic science.

Privacy International calls on the FSR to look into quality and accuracy issues related to data extracted from satellite enabled GPS electronic monitoring which risk impeding or prejudicing the course of justice in immigration and criminal proceedings.

During the second session of the UN Ad Hoc Committee which is negotiating a potential United Nations Cybercrime Treaty, Privacy International made three joint interventions. The second session took place in Vienna from 30 May to 10 June.

The ministerial Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the UK recently ran a consultation to review the regulatory framework for paid-for online advertising. The aim according to DCMS is "to tackle the evident lack of transparency and accountability across the whole supply chain."

PI has long been concerned about the online advertising industry, particularly the harm caused by adtech companies and data brokers in the advertising supply chain. PI welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Online Advertising Programme (OAP) consultation.

PI responded to the call of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants to assess the human rights impact of current and newly established border management measures. In our submission we focus on relevant developments in the United Kingdom as well as provide an insight into global trends.

PI presented a submission as part of the consultation process for the up-coming to report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) on the right to privacy in the digital age.

Privacy International submitted its input to the European Commission's consultation on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.

In advance of the anticipated publication of the Data Protection Reform Bill in the UK, PI publishes here our response to the consultation on data protection reform submitted in November 2021. We focus on the real world impact of the proposed removal of extensive protections, by drawing on examples of PI’s research, investigations and advocacy from around the world.

Privacy International's submitted its input to the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty ahead of the presentation of his thematic report to the UN Human Rights Council titled "Social protection: a reality check".

PI's submission highlights the impact of digitalisation, automation and intrusive data collection on access to social protection.

Privacy International delivered oral and witness statement to first WHO Intergovernmental Negotiating Body consultation for an International Pandemic Treaty.

Privacy International submitted its input to the forthcoming report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) on the practical application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) to the activities of technology companies, to be presented at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council in June 2022.

Our submissions address the systemic lack of transparency and accountability of the technology industry, in particular in its relationships with governments and authorities. We recommend concrete measures to ensure human rights standards are applied and upheld in the activities of technology companies, and when their products and services are used by governments for surveillance and public decision-making.

Privacy International (PI) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) submitted their contribution for the second session of the Ad-Hoc Committee mandated to develop a UN Cybercrime Treaty. While the organisations are not convinced a global cybercrime treaty is necessary, we believe that any UN Cybercrime Treaty must ensure the respect and protection of human-rights.

On 2 March 2022, Privacy International intervened during the first session of the the Ad Hoc Committee responsible for drafting a potential United Nations Cybercrime Treaty.

In our intervention we focussed on the scope of the proposed treaty and the safeguards necessary to ensure human rights are respected.