Amnesty International has voiced concerns over the digital biometric asylum application, CBP One, developed by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), citing its lack of assurances regarding data privacy.
The human rights organization asserts that not only does the CBP One app, designated as the sole method for asylum application in the U.S., potentially infringe upon refugee rights, but its biometric features also raise significant worries regarding privacy, surveillance, and the potential for discrimination.
Initiated under President Joe Biden’s administration, the CBP One app serves as a gateway to the U.S. asylum system for migrants seeking legal entry. It allows migrants to schedule appointments at U.S. ports of entry.
Amnesty International’s report highlights the app’s failure to clarify whether asylum seekers’ uploaded photographs are shared with other government entities. Additionally, concerns are raised about the app’s utilization of 1:n facial recognition, prompting questions about privacy, necessity, and proportionality under international human rights laws.
According to the report, the use of 1:n facial recognition could lead to mass surveillance and targeted discrimination. Furthermore, an analysis reveals that device information and identifiers are transmitted to Google’s Firebase service without user disclosure.
Earlier this year, CBP One faced criticism for its plan to expand biometric data collection from non-resident aliens departing the United States. The app has also encountered backlash due to frequent errors, glitches, and crashes, with over half a million people utilizing it to schedule entry appointments by March 2024.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the government aims to transition its immigration system to an online-only scheme by January 1st, 2025, eliminating physical visas and biometric residency permit cards. However, concerns have been raised by lawyers and immigrant rights groups regarding the potential chaos the introduction of eVisas could bring to immigrant lives.
Under the proposed system, migrants residing in the UK would need to establish digital accounts to access their documents. Yet, many are reportedly unaware of the new electronic visa scheme due to communication failures within the system.
Lawyers argue that the government’s rushed implementation and lack of adequate communication may leave thousands of UK-based migrants stranded overseas or unable to exercise their rights to work and rent accommodations.
Instances of individuals being locked out of the country due to digital documentation issues have already been documented, according to the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA). Concerns are also raised regarding the ability of elderly individuals and other vulnerable groups to navigate the new eVisa system.
The UK government’s efforts to revamp its immigration IT systems have been marred by technical challenges, delays, and increased budgetary allocations. In March, the country’s data protection authority launched an investigation into the Home Office following reports of biographical and biometric data errors affecting over 76,000 individuals in the UK government immigration database.