Restricted data protection rights for non-citizens in Germany

People residing in Germany without German citizenship have their personal data automatically stored in a centralised database that can be accessed and shared by more than 14,000 government agencies. The data fields in the register include personal data regarding identity, country of origin, and employment. In some cases, such as for asylum seekers, the register includes health information, biometric data, information on education, employment, and details on the asylum process.

GFF argue that this violates data protection rights and is discriminatory as German citizens are not subject to the same level of data extraction and storage.

GFF carried out research to prepare for litigation to challenge privacy violations of all individuals living or residing in Germany without German citizenship. They completed and published their research and a legal opinion in German in January 2022.

GFF are taking litigation, pushing the courts to rule that the use of this database is unconstitutional and must be stopped. On 28 October 2023, supported by GFF, PRO ASYL and the Lesbian and Gay Association of Germany (LSVD), eleven refugees filed a constitutional complaint against the amended law on the Central Register of Foreigners (AZR). In parallel to the constitutional complaint, the alliance and two refugees are suing the Ansbach administrative court to stop their data from being passed on to the police and secret services.