Research carried out by Privacy International (PI) has raised concerns over the level of involvement that technology companies have in the UK immigration border regime. According to Privacy International, private technology companies face little accountability for their development and deployment of various technologies used across UK borders.
A report published by PI, titled ‘The UK’s privatised migration surveillance regime’, contains details of the role that dozens of private tech firms play in the UK’s immigration and border regime.
The report states: “The close-knit relationship between UK immigration enforcement and the technology sector means UK authorities are able to call on intrusive surveillance powers matching those of anyone else in the world.”
MINISTERS are facing growing calls to end NHS data-sharing after 140 organisations warned that the vaccine “amnesty” will not be enough to ensure that undocumented migrants come forward for Covid jabs.
The coalition, which includes trade unions, migrant rights organisations and faith groups, has written to the government to call for hostile environment policies in healthcare to be scrapped.
On Monday, the government reiterated that undocumented migrants will not face immigration checks if they have the jab.
But the Refugee Council, Liberty, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Haringey Council, the Faculty of Public Health and dozens of other bodies warn that distrust of the healthcare system caused by anti-immigration policies will prevent many people receiving the vaccine.