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 it’s 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.
Ireland’s ID card for accessing public services
Organisation Name
Digital Rights Ireland
Country/Jurisdiction
Ireland
Thematic Area
Privacy and data protection
Current Status
Ongoing
Grant type
Single Instance Litigation Support
Description
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.
"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"
Strategic Goal
To halt the use of the Public Services Card and protect the personal and image data rights of the population of Ireland. Digital Rights Ireland are also using the case to test their capacity and standing to bring mass representative complaints under the new data protection regime
Organisation Name
Women’s Link Worldwide
Image credit: Amanda Dalbjörn on Unsplash