Use of Social Media Data to conduct age assessments
Dear Sir/Madam,
This request relates to the use of social media data by local authorities to conduct age assessments.
We aware of the increasing prevalence of the use of social media intelligence within central and local government for a wide variety of purposes.
For example, in 2020 PI published its extensive research highlighting the use of social media intelligence (SOCMINT) by local authorities. Our report (https://privacyinternational.org/report/...) disclosed that local authorities are looking at people's social media accounts, as part of their intelligence gathering and investigation tactics in areas such as council tax payments, children’s services, benefits and monitoring of protests and demonstrations.
Most recently we are also seeing increasing reliance on the use of social media evidence in age disputes of asylum seekers (https://tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.u...). Local Authorities and courts are requesting access to log in details (usernames and passwords) for social media accounts to determine the age of the young person. As well as downloads of full timelines of Facebook activities (which is only accessible to users when logged in) (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho...) to the local authority. This can also include data from personal messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
In light of the above information, PI requests the following information by way of a Freedom of Information Act request:
1. Please inform us if, further to a court order and/or Home Office instruction, you have conducted a review of an individual's social media or other communications or downloaded data for the purposes of an age assessment in the immigration context.
2. (a) Please confirm whether the individual is always present when the review is conducted and
(b) whether they are accompanied by their legal representative or an appropriate adult.
3. Please clarify if you record these requests in such a way that you can give figures for the amount of age assessments conducted by your local authority that involve reviews of social media or other communications or downloading of data. If you do record them in a way that means you can provide figures, please confirm the number of age assessments conducted that involve a review of an individual's social media in the last 12 months.
4. Please could you provide us with the relevant guidance and/or policy in relation to these requests for age assessments that involve reviews of social media or other communications or downloading data.
5. Please can you provide us with a copy of the Data Protection Impact Assessment if you have conducted one. (DPIA).
6. Please confirm the legal basis you rely upon when seeking to obtain disclosure of social media and messenger (such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messanger, Viber etc) log in details or other communications for age assessment for immigration purposes.
7. Please provide us with any training materials relevant to the above issues.
If you are unclear on what we are asking or require us to reduce the number of questions to enable you to respond please let us know.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Ksenia Bakina
Privacy International
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References
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1. https://www.camden.gov.uk/formal-enquiry
2. https://opendata.camden.gov.uk/browse
3. http://www.camden.gov.uk/privacystatement
Dear Dr. Ksenia Bakina
Your case reference is CAM3979
Thank you for your enquiry. It is being looked at, we will be in touch
with you soon.
Yours sincerely
Camden Council
Dear Requester,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 and ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION REGULATIONS
2004 – request for information. Ref: CAM3979
Thank you for your request dated 23 Sep 2022. We are dealing with it under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information
Regulations 2004.
You will receive a response by 21 Oct 2022 which is 20 working days (from
the day after the request is received) as defined by the Act and
Regulations.
Please check your spam folder in case our response may arrive there.
If we need to ask you to clarify your request we will contact you. If we
do ask for clarification and you don’t provide it your request will lapse,
so please read carefully any correspondence we send you about your
request.
We will provide information electronically where possible. If you need an
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be sent marketing material. Any such use will be reported to the ICO as a
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Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner’s
Office at [1]https://ico.org.uk/, telephone 0303 123 1113, Email:
[2][email address].
Yours sincerely,
Tanya Bryant
Information Rights Officer
References
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1. https://ico.org.uk/
2. mailto:[email address]
Dear Requester
Ref: CAM3979
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000- INFORMATION REQUEST
Thank you for your recent request received on 23 Sep 2022.
We need to ask you to clarify your request so we can deal with it.
Please can you: Can you please clarify whether you are seeking information
on children or Adults or both?
Please can you provide the clarification within 3 weeks of today - so by
the 17 Oct 2022.
Please do not respond to this email as this is a no-reply address.
Please click on the link below and enter your clarification. The link is
one use only.
[1]https://www.camden.gov.uk/web/guest?p_p_...
Once you have clarified your request, we will be able to process it.
However if you do not provide the clarification by the date requested your
request will lapse and we will close the case.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely
Tanya Bryant
Information Rights Officer
References
Visible links
1. https://www.camden.gov.uk/web/guest?p_p_...
Dear Camden Borough Council,
Apologies for a delay in getting back to you. We are seeking information in relation to age assesments conducted to establsh a person's age. Whilst this is predominently relevant for children, there may be instances where a young person is deemed to be an adult following the age assessment.
I hope this clarifies your question.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Ksenia Bakina
Privacy International
Dear Dr Bakina.
Thank you for your clarification. Unfortunately, your request - CAM3979 –
is now closed as we asked you to send your clarification by 17/10/22 by
replying to the link provided.
If you wish to make a new request you can do so by using our online form
[1]https://www.camden.gov.uk/formal-enquiry or by emailing
[2][Camden Borough Council request email]
Thank you for your interest in Camden Council.
Kind regards,
Kieran Heneghan
Information Rights Officer
London Borough of Camden
Telephone: 020 7974 4022
Web: [3]camden.gov.uk
10
5 Pancras Square
London N1C 4AG
From: Privacy International <[FOI #901251 email]>
Sent: 24 October 2022 11:16
To: FOI <[Camden Borough Council request email]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Use of Social Media Data to
conduct age assessments
[EXTERNAL EMAIL] Beware – This email originated outside Camden Council
and may be malicious Please take extra care with any links, attachments,
requests to take action or for you to verify your password etc. Please
note there have been reports of emails purporting to be about Covid 19
being used as cover for scams so extra vigilance is required.
Dear Camden Borough Council,
Apologies for a delay in getting back to you. We are seeking information
in relation to age assesments conducted to establsh a person's age. Whilst
this is predominently relevant for children, there may be instances where
a young person is deemed to be an adult following the age assessment.
I hope this clarifies your question.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Ksenia Bakina
Privacy International
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