Home Office responds to surveillance questions about Aspen Card users

01/02/2022 | Privacy International

Eight months after submitting an FOI request to the Home Office regarding how data is collected from Aspen Cards, Privacy International have finally received a response. Aspen Cards are debit payment cards provided to UK asylum seekers by the government. So it should come as no surprise that the Home Office closely monitors purchases made with the card. PI are concerned "asylum seekers are subject to automated decisions based on potentially spurious data." It means someone's basic subsistence can be cut off for something as simple as using "their Aspen Card away from where they live." 

The FOI response contained several documents, including the DPIA.

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Home Office Visa, & immigration, asylum

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