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Open Rights Group
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We fight for digital rights. Join us.

https://www.openrightsgroup.org/join/
No bark. No bite.

The ICO has shied away from enforcing data laws one too many times.

Yesterday over 70 groups and experts joined ORG's demand for an inquiry into the regulator.

Evidence shows that enforcement goes down, breaches go up. We say enough.

www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releas...
70+ organisations and experts demand action over failing ICO
Over 70 civil society organisations, academics and data protection experts have urged the Chair of the Select Committee for Science Information and Technology to open an inquiry into the collapse in…
www.openrightsgroup.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Open Rights Group
What’s happened to the ICO’s enforcement regime?

We’ve signed @openrightsgroup.org’s letter calling for an inquiry after the data regulator declined to formally investigate the MoD over the Afghan data breach.
https://bit.ly/48gc9ZZ
Civil liberties groups call for inquiry into UK data protection watchdog
Campaigners including Good Law Project describe ICO ‘collapse in enforcement activity’ after Afghan data breach
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Prevent ≠ safeguarding. It's about surveillance.

The Palestine Action ban and a vague interpretation of 'extremism' has meant that people engaging in the Palestinian solidarity movement have been swept up into the Prevent Duty.

We must not criminalise dissent!

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Palestine Action ban could lead to people being wrongly criminalised, Home Office official says
Exclusive: Member of homeland security group says anti-terrorism Prevent scheme risks being overwhelmed by Palestine advocates
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The final straw – the Information Commissioner's Office has decided NOT to investigate the Afghan data leak. It's time to investigate them!

Over 70 organisations and experts back ORG's call for an inquiry into the regulator's chronic failure to enforce data law.

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Civil liberties groups call for inquiry into UK data protection watchdog
Campaigners including Good Law Project describe ICO ‘collapse in enforcement activity’ after Afghan data breach
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
‘The devil’s in the detail’

Hear from ORG’s James Baker on the intersection of the Database State and AI in Digital ID, how the Online Safety Act abdicates responsibility for social problems to Big Tech, and the self sabotage of breaking encryption.

Listen now ⬇️

vpetersson.com/podcast/S02E...
UK Online Safety Act: Digital ID and the Risks of a Database State with James Baker
What happens when a government's push for
vpetersson.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:15 AM
We went outside the national police summit and this is what happened...

When we tried to ask delegates to talk on camera, no one wanted to.

Why? Because constant monitoring doesn’t feel safe. It feels intrusive 🤷‍♂️

#SafetyNotSurveillance
#BanCrimePredictingTech
November 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"Imagine the person you disagree with most in politics...

"Imagine what they could do with this type of [Digital ID] system if you didn't have the right safeguards in place."

"We don't have a written constitution that has privacy protections."

🗣️ ORG's James Baker

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Digital ID cannot be saved, MPs told - 'no one believes it's about immigration'
Campaigners told the Home Affairs Select Committee that voters are 'up in arms' about the proposals and do not believe it is just about tackling illegal migration
www.mirror.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Today, outside the national policing conference members of the Safety not Surveillance coalition went to deliver a simple message…

Communities don't want more surveillance. They want real safety.

@amnestyuk.bsky.social

#SafetyNotSurveillance #BanCrimePredictingTech
November 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Open Rights Group
Today we’ll be giving evidence at the Home Affairs Select Committee on Digital ID.

We’ll argue against the introduction of this digital surveillance infrastructure, where we’ll have to constantly prove who we are as we go about our daily lives.

Watch from 2.30pm.

www.youtube.com/live/BF1Ucg9...
New digital forms of indentification – Home Affairs Committee
The Home Affairs Committee explores the potential benefits and risks of digital ID. This session has a particular focus on the potential benefits for managing the immigration system and reducing crim...
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Today we’ll be giving evidence at the Home Affairs Select Committee on Digital ID.

We’ll argue against the introduction of this digital surveillance infrastructure, where we’ll have to constantly prove who we are as we go about our daily lives.

Watch from 2.30pm.

www.youtube.com/live/BF1Ucg9...
New digital forms of indentification – Home Affairs Committee
The Home Affairs Committee explores the potential benefits and risks of digital ID. This session has a particular focus on the potential benefits for managing the immigration system and reducing crim...
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Unchecked facial recognition makes us suspects for simply leaving the house.

“We urgently need Parliament to legislate for the use of this intrusive technology to ensure that there is proper transparency and oversight.”

🗣️ @sarachitseko.bsky.social for ORG.

morningstaronline.co.uk/article/faci...
Facial recognition vans rolled out to seven more police forces
THE expansion of facial recognition will further erode civil liberties and “disproportionately immiserate” marginalised communities, campaigners warned today.Home Office funding has been provided for ...
morningstaronline.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Open Rights Group
🚨 The Home Office disclosed via FOI that whilst surveillance imagery is not being used to determine asylum cases, they are being used to prosecute under Sections 24 and 25 of the Immigration Act 1971. Read more: buff.ly/27S8Olf
November 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
What a night! A big thank you to everyone who came along to our London meet-up this week.

We had a great time getting to know everyone and hearing from you.

So let's stay in touch!

Sign up to our newsletter for updates on future events and campaigns ➡️ action.openrightsgroup.org/sign-up-for-...
November 14, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Can a toddler be a terrorist? A shocking new report has found that babies and toddlers have been referred to the controversial counter-terrorism scheme Prevent hundreds of times since 2016.

Read the report from @hyphenonline.com here:

hyphenonline.com/2025/11/12/b...
Babies and toddlers referred to Prevent hundreds of times
More than 200 referrals made to counter-terror scheme for children aged three or under since 2016, most citing ‘Islamist’ concerns
hyphenonline.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Is Ofcom coming for VPNs?

Monitoring their use through the narrow lens of whether the Online Safety Act is working is shortsighted.

"VPNs can help protect children's security online too, they aren’t just used to avoid content blocks."

🗣️ ORG's James Baker.

www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-priv...
Exclusive: Ofcom is monitoring VPNs following Online Safety Act. Here's how
Ignoring VPNs risks creating ineffective laws, but tracking them threatens people's privacy
www.techradar.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Coming up on Monday!

Come on down to our social to catch up with the latest in digital rights and meet new people.

Sign up now ⬇️
⏰ NEXT WEEK ⏰

We're going beyond the screen and hosting a meet up IRL. Whether you're a supporter or just curious, everyone is welcome to pop down.

Hear from our team, mingle and join the movement!

🗓️ 10 Nov, 6:30-9pm
📍 Newspeak House, LDN

Sign up now ⬇️
ORG London Meet-Up
Join ORG to get the latest on our campaigns on the Online Safety Act, Digital IDs and more.
www.openrightsgroup.org
November 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
⏰ NEXT WEEK ⏰

We're going beyond the screen and hosting a meet up IRL. Whether you're a supporter or just curious, everyone is welcome to pop down.

Hear from our team, mingle and join the movement!

🗓️ 10 Nov, 6:30-9pm
📍 Newspeak House, LDN

Sign up now ⬇️
ORG London Meet-Up
Join ORG to get the latest on our campaigns on the Online Safety Act, Digital IDs and more.
www.openrightsgroup.org
November 3, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Human rights underpin our everyday lives, often in invisible ways but always there when you need them.

Easily sacrificed for political expediency. Hard felt by all of us when gone.

ORG joined @libertyhq.bsky.social and hundreds of groups to defend the ECHR ✊

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Leaving the ECHR won’t stop the boats, 300 organisations warn in rallying cry
Prime minister Keir Starmer urged to make positive case for ECHR after Kemi Badenoch pledged a Tory government would leave the treaty
www.independent.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Cookies feed the beast of targeted advertising 🍪

The ICO wants the industry to use less less-invasive forms of tracking by exempting them from cookie consent rules. But will this stop the privacy-be-damned trade in our data?

Our roundtable had its say ⬇️

www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/the-fut...
Is cookie consent going to change in the UK?
Open Rights Group convened a stakeholder roundtable on the future of adtech and cookie consent requirements in the UK following the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) consultation on a new…
www.openrightsgroup.org
October 31, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reimagining Digital ID 💭

ORG's @sarahalsherif.bsky.social is on the panel to discuss how the introduction of Digital ID must learn from research in Global Majority contexts and consider the implications for migrants and refugees.

🗓️ Sat 8 November

Register now ⬇️

www.redid.net/events-1/lon...
Reimagining Digital ID: Learning from the South | REDID Project
A one-day symposium on Digital ID in Global South, refugee and UK contexts, including exhibition launch of drawings by Karen refugees at the Thai-Myanmar border
www.redid.net
October 30, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Meta's new subscription service monetises our data rights 🏧

Users must consent to the use of their personal data for targeted advertising, or cough up the dosh to opt out.

Meta must offer a tracking free version to implement this in a lawful way.

www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releas...
Meta fails to respect data rights with consent or pay scheme
Meta has announced that it will offer customers in the UK a new subscription service which will enable them to access the company’s services without receiving adverts.
www.openrightsgroup.org
October 30, 2025 at 9:15 AM
ORG is hiring 🚀

We're looking for an expert Consultant to develop a policy on the use of AI in the immigration/asylum system in the UK and set out the protections needed to respect migrants’ rights.

Get in touch by Sunday 9 November.

Find out more ⬇️

www.openrightsgroup.org/consultancy-...
Consultancy: AI and Immigration System
Open Rights Group (ORG) is the UK’s leading digital rights organisation, working to protect privacy, free expression, and digital justice.
www.openrightsgroup.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by Open Rights Group
Debated "A law abiding citizen has Nothing to Fear from surveillance" in Durham Union last night, alongside Professor Charles Raab and Rebecca Vincent; proposing was Professor Anthony Glees. #digtalid #privacy #durham #durhamunion
October 25, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Hey, London! Why not log off for the night and meet in person?

Come on down to get the latest on our campaigns from the Online Safety Act to Digital IDs and more. Everyone is welcome!

🗓️ Monday 10 November
🕡 6.30–9pm
📍 Newspeak House, E2 7DG

Sign up now ⬇️

www.openrightsgroup.org/events/org-l...
ORG London Meet-Up
Join ORG to get the latest on our campaigns on the Online Safety Act, Digital IDs and more.
www.openrightsgroup.org
October 22, 2025 at 3:09 PM
We've had reports of people being unable to access their eVisa when boarding a flight to the UK.

The airline made them buy an ETA for visitors to the UK, even though they have the right to live here.

If this has happened to you, we'd love to hear from you

Get in touch: [email protected]
October 22, 2025 at 8:19 AM