WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE UNITED KINGDOM - STATEWATCH - Bi-weekly bulletin: issue 25/06

 

issue 25/06 11 April welcome Dear Statewatcher, Making predictions is a tricky, if not downright foolish, business. Yet, this doesn’t seem to bother the British government, as shown by the investigations we’ve published this week. You may have already seen one of them in the news. Our research on the Ministry of Justice’s “Homicide Prediction Project” has been in the press worldwide. With a title like that, the attention and concern are hardly surprising. It’s also just the tip of a very large iceberg. Yesterday, we also revealed the use of an algorithm to ‘predict’ the risk of prisoners reoffending. We showed how the UK Ministry of Justice uses it to profile more than one thousand people every day. That system has been in use for more than two decades. We will undoubtedly see more of these experiments in the years to come. The British government plans to legalise automated decision-making by the police, which would be a massive boon for ‘predictive’ policing technologies. The UK is not alone in these ventures, as research we supported in Germany makes clear. We will follow this with a report on similar cases in other European countries in the coming weeks. Police use of algorithmic and automated decision-making systems is pervasive. All this research points to the same conclusion: 'predictive' systems reinforce the bias already baked into police data. They should be banned. Instead of dubious, dystopian techno-fixes, we need systems of support, care, welfare and education. To challenge these systems effectively, we need to know where and how they are being used. We have laid a foundation for this work, and are ready to take it further. But we need your help. Become a friend of Statewatch today to help us expose and challenge these dubious technologies in the years to come. Thank you. Chris Jones Director, Statewatch make a donation >> news UK: Over 1,300 people profiled daily by Ministry of Justice AI system to ‘predict’ re-offending risk Over 20 years ago, a system to assess prisoners’ risk of reoffending was rolled out in the criminal legal system across England and Wales. It now uses artificial intelligence techniques to profile thousands of offenders and alleged offenders every week. Despite serious concerns over racism and data inaccuracies, the system continues to influence decision-making on imprisonment and parole – and a new system is in the works. read more >> UK: Ministry of Justice secretly developing ‘murder prediction’ system The Ministry of Justice is developing a system that aims to ‘predict’ who will commit murder, as part of a “data science” project using sensitive personal data on hundreds of thousands of people. read more >> UK government wants to legalise automated police decision-making A proposed law in the UK would allow police decisions to be made solely by computers, with no human input. The Data Use and Access Bill would remove a safeguard in data protection law that prohibits solely automated decision-making by law enforcement agencies. read more >> Swedish parliament urged to reject law that would "greatly undermine security and privacy" The Swedish parliament is benig urged to reject a law that would "force companies to store and provide law enforcement with access to their users’ communications, including those that are end-to-end encrypted." The law, designed to strengthen police powers, would "create vulnerabilities that criminals and other malicious actors could readily exploit," says the letter. read more >> Impunity for war criminals and the European migration strategy in Libya New leaked documents show that the EU’s “border assistance mission” in Libya is slowly expanding its work and is entering a “consolidation phase”. The efforts to “stabilise” the North African country include increased cooperation with Frontex. Meanwhile, in January, a wanted war criminal was arrested in Italy, only to be released and flown back to Libya on a government jet. This act made Italy and the EU’s reliance on third-state actors to maintain their migration policy clear. read more >> what we're watching This is our bi-weekly round up of all the important news, events, and resources we've come across over the last two weeks. Find this resource useful? If so, please consider making a donation to support us. borders and frontiers It’s not just Trump, the EU is also waging an anti-migration crusade While the world’s attention is focusing on Trump’s anti-migration spectacle, the European Union is quietly carrying out its own crackdown. Its policies are far less visible, yet they are just as ruthless. Read more. 2024 UK charter deportations: a balance sheet Last year was a big one for the UK’s deportation charter flight programme. From the failed Rwanda plan, to Labour’s attempts to boost ‘removal’ statistics, deportation charters have been constantly in the news. But who is the government deporting on these chartered jets? Which airlines are lining their pockets by inflicting misery? Read more. Maltese government wants to change European Convention on Human Rights to enforce even tougher migration control Malta will hold the Council of Europe presidency this year, and the country's prime minister has said that "human rights conventions" - presumably, the European Convention on Human Rights - need to be reformed "to reflect today's realities when it comes to irregular migration." Read more. UK: Source of asylum claims in 2024 New experimental data on the routes individuals used to travel to the UK before claiming asylum in 2024. Read more. Our Eye on the EU  In the world of migration and border security, the EU’s latest plans include the controversial proposal for “Return Hubs”. Finally, one of our readers analyses the growing push for military investment under “ReArm Europe”. Read more. Children found malnourished in Greek migrant camp, MSF charity says Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Monday it had identified the first cases of malnourished children in a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos, which has been criticized by rights groups for dangerous living conditions. Read more. Germany orders halt on UN refugee resettlement program Berlin has put a freeze on applications as it prepares for a new government with new immigration priorities. The scheme focuses on particularly vulnerable refugees who cannot stay in their initial country of arrival. Read more. Unaccompanied Children Sleep on the Floor in Shifts in Greece’s ‘Model Camps’. The EU Is Aware. Internal EU documents obtained through freedom of information requests and visual evidence from rights organizations on the ground, reveal systemic neglect of hundreds of unaccompanied children trapped in dire conditions in Greek refugee camps. Read more. Migrant offshoring: the EU's plan to deport more rejected asylum seekers under scrutiny An EU proposal to potentially send certain failed asylum seekers to return hubs in third countries such as Uganda has led to some recent backlash amid growing concern over the rule of law and the human rights record in these destinations. Read more.  Frontex: 20 years of war on migrants in defiance of rights As the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex celebrates its 20th anniversary on 26 October 2024, the Migreurop network, in conjunction with its members, organised a public conference on the occasion of the 10th edition of the Festival Sabir (Rome) to take stock of the activities and excesses of the Frontex agency, and of 20 years of war on migrants with no regard for their rights. Read more. The UK’s AI Borders: Anduril’s Autonomous Surveillance Towers On the South-East coast of England, an elusive and secretive physical AI border is being implemented in the form of Anduril Maritime Sentry Towers. Read more. Austrian and German Interior Ministers Engage in Migration Talks in Jordan The purpose of their trip to the capital city of Amman is to engage in discussions with government officials regarding critical issues surrounding migration, refugee matters, and security. Read more. coercion and control A disturbing pattern of repression is emerging in Europe Authoritarianism is creeping into Europe under the guise of cracking down on pro-Palestinian activism. Read more. Spanish prisons use a 30-year-old algorithm to decide on temporary releases The Risk Factor Table (TVR in Spanish) is a ten-factor formula which, 32 years after its creation, prison professionals still use to decide whether to grant temporary release. In 2024 alone, more than 200 provincial court decisions cite it as a compelling reason for granting or denying temporary release, several of them against the prison’s own recommendation. Read more. German police support Fortress Algeria The government in Berlin has begun police cooperation with authoritarian Algeria – a key country in the region for flight and migration towards Europe and North Africa. Read more. UK hosts first major international summit to tackle illegal migration A recent international summit hosted by the UK government promised to "launch an unprecedented global fight against ruthless people smuggling gangs." Read more. Tunisia: Judiciary unable to fulfil its role in achieving justice for all citizens without discrimination Since 2022, the Tunisian Judges’ Association (Association des Magistrats Tunisiens, AMT), an independent professional association, has been on strike and holding open sit-ins to denounce the decision to dismiss 57 judges. The association announced it would not run for judicial positions to replace those dismissed, nor would it run for positions on the electoral commission’s subsidiary bodies. This dismissal was a bad start to an even worse judicial future. Read more. Interpol has a Russia problem When Interpol was founded, it had a noble aim: to facilitate international police cooperation. But it now faces a crisis of legitimacy. By attempting to remain neutral between democracies and dictatorships, Interpol has become an unwitting accomplice to transnational repression. Read more. Egypt signs deal with EU police agency, demands more help on migration control Egypt has called for more international cooperation on migration control and people smuggling, and inked a police cooperation deal with Brussels. Read more. Europol signs Working Arrangement with the Arab Republic of Egypt, first agreement with an African country The Working Arrangement provides for a structured and enhanced exchange of information (non-personal data) on transnational, serious and organised crime. Following the signing of the Working Arrangement, Egypt’s Ministry of Interior will be able to deploy a liaison officer to join Europol’s liaison officer community at its headquarters in The Hague.   Read more. UK: Our explainer on the “Organised Immigration Crime” Summit The Hostile Office has been busy pushing out its latest round of cruel migration policies. If you’re finding it hard to keep track, we’ve pulled together this helpful explainer. Read more. Poor quality images hold Scottish police facial recognition matches to 2% Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Dr. Brian Plastow warns that a significant number of the custody images held in national police databases are too poor quality for effective face biometrics matching. Read more. Beset on all sides, European NGOs risk running out of money A conservative campaign against public funding for NGOs has piled on the pressure to an already beleaguered sector. Read more. Commission unveils ProtectEU – a new European Internal Security Strategy Today, the European Commission is presenting ProtectEU – a European Internal Security Strategy to support Member States and bolster the EU's ability to guarantee security for its citizens. The strategy sets out an ambitious vision and workplan for the years to come, with a sharper legal toolbox, increased information sharing and deeper cooperation. Read more. crime and collusion Netanyahu trip to Hungary lays bare EU lip service to ICC Hungary ought to arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this week, the EU Commission has said, amid lukewarm European backing for international justice. Read more. Egypt joins Horizon Europe despite academic freedom concerns The European Union has struck a deal with Egypt allowing it to associate to Horizon Europe, despite concerns from MEPs and former diplomats about restrictions on research in the country. Read more. Israel deports two British MPs amid backlash over killings of Gaza medics Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed flew from London to Israel on Saturday and were rejected because they were suspected of plans to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred”, Sky News reported, citing a statement from the Israeli immigration ministry. Read more. EU hypocrisy on parade as Netanyahu goes to Hungary  without a peep When Putin wanted to go to South Africa, Brussels banged on about his ICC war crimes warrant. Crickets for the Israel PM's trip to Budapest. Read more. discrimination and racism After the fall of a student fraternity member in Graz, right-wing Styria cracks down on the left-wing scene An interview with the author Lois Shearing discussing their book Pink Pilled: Women and the Far Right. Covers women's precarious positions within online fascists spaces, how gender motivates far right politics today, how the emptiness of liberal feminism can be exploited and more. Read more. Belgium: Persistent failure to provide reception violates rights and dignity of people seeking asylum The Belgian authorities continue to deny reception to thousands of people seeking asylum, forcing them into homelessness, in violation of the country’s obligations under international, EU and Belgian law, Amnesty International said today. Read more. Alarming increase in racist violence against migrants in Tunisia and Libya Security forces have raided and dismantled makeshift camps in the areas of Sfax, El Amra and Jebeniana were hundreds of people -primarily from Sudan, Mali, Gambia, Guinea, and Ivory Coast, among other Sub-Saharan African countries—had been living. Hate campaigns against them, the lack of residency, protection, housing and shelters, coupled with a severe socio-economic crisis in Tunisia, are fuelling growing wave of racist and violent attacks against migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Read more. UK: Families of people who died in police custody lead People’s Tribunal   The group is instigating the reopening of all of the several thousand deaths and initiating their reinvestigations. This international initiative with a 10-year plan of action is aiming to deliver the justice that every family affected by deaths in police custody has long campaigned for. Read more. peace and war   Spain: Manifesto agaisnt European rearmament and war As of 28 March, the manifesto had been signed by 16,000 people and 800 organisations from across Spain. The manifesto asks: "In what measure, exactly, does this unbridled increase in military spending - which European governments plan to approve without public debate, transparency or details - contribute to a future of peace?" Read more. NATO must be ‘stronger, fairer, and more lethal’ Foreign Secretary to say The UK will encourage NATO Allies to step up defence spending to support Euro-Atlantic security as the Foreign Secretary arrives in Brussels for the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting today (Thursday 3 April). He will say that making NATO stronger, fairer, and more lethal is key to protecting the conditions for growth at home. Read more. resistance and solidarity UK: Supreme Court rejects police's Taser payout appeal A City of London Police application to appeal against a ruling that it must pay £24,000 in compensation to a social worker who was Tasered by one of its officers has been refused by the Supreme Court. Read more. CIVICUS 2025 state of civil society report In a realigning global landscape marked by the rise of right-wing populism, autocracy, sickening violence, climate inaction and economic inequality, this report documents both the challenges and the inspiring responses of civil society activists and organisations worldwide. Through their persistent efforts and against the odds, they continue to carry the torch for the vision of a more peaceful, equitable and sustainable world. Read more. Germany moves to deport four foreign residents for pro-Palestine activism The four slated for deportation have not been convicted of any crime but are alleged to have participated in protests against Israel's assault on Gaza. Read more. UK: Families demand "All or nothing" Hillsborough Law Families bereaved by state-related deaths and those affected by miscarriages of justice have issued a clear warning to Government following reports that the forthcoming Bill will fail to contain the key elements of Hillsborough Law. Read more. Open Letter: Stop the Israeli Government's Systematic Assault on Civil Society We, the undersigned Palestinian civil society organizations in Israel, write with grave concern and urgent alarm over the Israeli government's intensified efforts to dismantle civil society, suppress human rights organizations, and eliminate independent advocacy for justice and accountability Read more. secrecy and transparency Making Algorithm Registers Work for Meaningful Transparency Public administrations are increasingly adopting algorithms for decision-making and citizen interactions in areas such as health, education, welfare, and law enforcement. These systems also influence critical private sector domains like insurance, banking, and employment. Despite their widespread use, algorithms often lack transparency, leaving citizens, regulators, and watchdogs unable to fully understand or monitor their implications. Read more. surveillance and snooping Facebook to stop targeting ads at UK woman after legal fight Facebook has agreed to stop targeting adverts at an individual user using personal data after she filed a lawsuit against its parent company, tech giant Meta. Read more. Spain: Police officer spent two years infilitrating activist groups in Lleida The latest in a string of spycops uncovered by the newspaper La Directa over the last two years. Using the false identity of Joan Llobet Garcia, a police officer infilitrated a local 'ateneu', the students' union, and the environmental wing of the organisation Endavant. Read more. CJEU saved the HADOPI: what implications for the future of data retention in the EU?  The Court of Justice of the European Union judgement on the HADOPI case (C-470/21) is significant for the ongoing debate on mandatory retention of metadata, such as traffic and location data. EDRi provides key takeaways and what they mean for the upcoming data retention legislation by the European Commission. Read more. UK: New database of material released during Undercover Policing Inquiry launched The SpycopsResearch.info database is an Undercover Research Group project. It aims to make the material released during the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) accessible for all. Read more. ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Statewatch 88 Fleet St, EC4Y 1DH, London