Location Surveillance Technology | Privacy International

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Explainer

Infrared temperature screening

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Telco data and Covid-19: A primer

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Bluetooth tracking and COVID-19: A tech primer

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Mobile Phone Extraction: How the police can secretly download everything on your mobile phone

Report and Analysis

Long Read

Buddi Limited - Immigration Enforcement's favourite tracking buddy

The privatisation of migration control and policing takes different shapes and forms.

The latest iteration comes in disguise – specifically, in four pastel colours: if you were to look at this company's main website, in fact, you'd only find wristbands and tools to monitor the well-being of elderly people who live alone. But as stated in their annual report, the majority of British company Buddi's revenue originates from the criminal justice market.

Key Resources

A guide for migrants and asylum rights organisations about privacy settings

This guide is for anyone concerned about their social media accounts being monitored by public authorities, but it’s especially targeted at people from minority and migrant communities who may be disproportionately affected by various forms of surveillance.

Long Read

There's an app for that: Coronavirus apps

Increased trust makes every response to COVID-19 stronger. Lack of trust and confidence can undermine everything. Should we trust governments and industry with their app solutions at this moment of global crisis?

News

17th August 2022

Privacy International files complaints against GPS tagging of migrants in the UK

15th June 2020

Ethnic minorities at greater risk of oversurveillance after protests

9th February 2018

Online surveillance becomes a priority for the Human Rights Council, as Pakistan joins the wrong side of the debate

9th February 2018

Creativity Software declare themselves “proud” to supply surveillance technology to Iran in unrepentant response to Privacy International’s letter

13th April 2016

How Long Before The MOD’s Flying Panopticon Starts Spying On Us?

6th February 2012

New surveillance industry database reveals small-town US police departments browsing surveillance tech alongside Libyan and Egyptian intelligence agencies

Examples of Abuse

Want to know how this translate in the real world? Here is the latest example in the news.

US department of Homeland Security (DHS) buys cellphone location data from private companies

Sidestepping the need to obtain a search warrant, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been accessing smartphone location data by buying it from private marketing that typically embed tracker in apps. This data, which maps the movement of millions of cellphones in America, was collected

See more examples of abuse

Our Advocacy

Challenge to systemic quality failures of GPS tags submitted to Forensic Science Regulator

Summary

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.