UK visa certificates of students shared online without consent
14/10/2025 | Financial Times
An analysis by the Financial Times (£) has revealed that twenty-three international recruitment agencies, including eight certified by the British Council, have published sensitive student visa information on social media, sparking serious data protection and privacy concerns. The agencies, predominantly based in South Asia, used images of open passports and visa certificates in marketing posts celebrating successful UK visa approvals.
These photos often display an individual's name, birth date, passport number, and photo. The article notes that privacy experts have identified the practice as a potential breach of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules if consent was not obtained for sharing the personal data. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union called the exposure of such sensitive information "horrifying," suggesting it demonstrates a lack of regard for student privacy and a failure to follow data protection law.
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