Impact

Impact Case Studies, Annual reports

Long Read

Q&A: Our challenge with Liberty against MI5 and the Home Secretary (2023)

We won our case against the UK’s Security Service (MI5) and the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD)

Following on from our initial reaction, we answer some key questions about the judgement below.

Press release

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EU Watchdog Finds Commission Failed to Protect Human Rights From its Surveillance Aid to African Countries

The European Ombudsman has found that the European Commission failed to take necessary measures to ensure the protection of human rights in the transfers of technology with potential surveillance capacity supported by its multi-billion Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

Long Read

Privacy and Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Post-Roe world

Concerning news from the US about the restriction of the right to abortion have made many reconsider their engagement with platforms processing health data. Here, we provide an overview of our research findings on the intersection of privacy and sexual and reproductive health.

News & Analysis

UK High Court rules blanket seizure of asylum seekers' phones breached Article 8 ECHR

Background Today judgment has been handed down in the landmark case of [R (HM and MA and KH) v Secretary of State for the Home Department](https://privacyinternational.org/legal-action/r-hm-and-ma-and-kh-v-secretary-state-home

Long Read

Producing real change: key highlights of our 2024 results

Since the beginning of 2024, we’ve achieved some wins.

News & Analysis

GPS tagging of migrants UNLAWFUL, UK authority finds after PI complaint

The UK's data protection authority (ICO) took action against the Home Office's GPS tagging of migrants.

Advocacy

A drawing showing a tall amazon building surrounded by businesses closing and out of business. The caption read "Big tech's data-fuelled power is a huge problem"

Submissions to the UK and EU competition authorities on the Amazon/iRobot merger

On 2 May and 5 June 2023, PI made a submission to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the European Commission, respectively, in relation to the proposed merger between Amazon and iRobot, outlining the concerns the transaction raises for consumers and markets.

Press release

UK Tribunal agrees that Meta’s acquisition of GIPHY harms competition

On 14 June 2022, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) upheld the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) assessment that Meta’s purchase of GIPHY harms competition. On 18 October 2022, the CMA confirmed its order for Meta to sell GIPHY, citing risks over users' data quoting among the key competition concerns.

News & Analysis

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All we want for Christmas is... Clearview AI to be banned (and looks like it's happening)!

Bit by bit regulators across the world are chipping off the toxic business model that Clearview AI relies on.

News & Analysis

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The ICO’s announcement about Clearview AI is a lot more than just a £17 million fine

Following PI’s submissions before the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), as well as other European regulators, the ICO has announced its provisional intent to fine facial recognition company Clearview AI. But this is more than just a regulatory action.

Video

Green pill bottle with label reading Technology Pill surrounded by muli-colour pills with a sound waveform running behind it, text next to the bottle reads Victory! A clearview update: some (provisionally) good news from the UK

Victory! A Clearview update: some (provisionally) good news from the UK

The ICO has provisionally issued a £17 million fine against facial recognition company Clearview AI.

Long Read

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An unhealthy diet of targeted ads: an investigation into how the diet industry exploits our data

Companies selling diet programmes are using tests to lure users. Those tests encourage users to share sensitive personal data, including about their physical and mental health. But what happens to the data? We investigated to find out.

News & Analysis

UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal finds the regime for bulk communications data to be incompatible with EU law

The UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal issued a declaration in our challenge to the bulk communications data regime, finding UK legislation to be incompatible with EU law.

Long Read

Q&A: Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights rules UK mass surveillance laws violate privacy and freedom of expression rights

On 25 May 2021, the Grand Chamber of the European Court issued a landmark ruling on UK mass surveillance practices. Below we answer some of your questions.

News & Analysis

A win for Unwanted Witness: Uganda’s data protection authority finds ride sharing app unlawfully disclosed personal data to third parties

Unwanted Witness’ research into motorcycle ride sharing app Safeboda, highlighting their failures to comply with data protection law, leads data protection regulator to take enforcement action.

News & Analysis

South African Constitutional Court declares bulk surveillance powers unlawful

Today, the Constitutional Court of South Africa in a historic judgment declared that bulk interception by the South African National Communications Centre is unlawful and invalid. The judgment is a confirmation of the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria’s powerful rejection of years of secret and