Latest editorial
THOUSANDS of people have been denied access to “potentially vital” information that could prove their right to remain in Britain, it was revealed today.
At least 20,000 applications requesting documents were withheld by the government using a controversial exemption clause in data protection laws, a freedom of information request by The Independent found.
The exemption, which allows information to be blocked if it “undermines immigration controls,” was passed into law through the Data Protection Act of 2018.
Digital ID means the government could track anyone and then limit their speech, movements, finances — and it could get this all wrong, identifying the wrong people for the wrong reasons, as the numerous digital cockups so far demonstrate, warns DYLAN MURPHY
Government accused of scapegoating ethnic minorities after Home Office reveals plan to publish the nationalities of foreign criminals