Ireland recently deployed a “Public Services Card” – an ID card with an electronic chip letting the government store people’s personal data (including photos). Digital Rights Ireland say the system has no legal basis and is in breach of European and Irish data protection law. It requires people to trade data and privacy for access to essential services they’re already legally entitled to.
Digital Rights Ireland submitted a mass action complaint to the Ireland Data Protection Commissioner against the data processing carried out by the government in the context of the Public Services Card. Digital Rights Ireland have created a campaign site where people can sign up and agree to be represented in the complaint.
In July 2021, Digital Rights Ireland received a positive response to their complaint with the Data Protection Commission of Ireland saying they have decided to establish an investigation about the Public Services Card based on the complaint. They are currently awaiting the outcomes of the investigation.