Concerns remain over the UK government's GPS tagging of migrants

Privacy International (PI) has published findings from its ongoing monitoring of the Home Office's GPS tagging practices following an enforcement notice and stern warning issued by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in March 2024. The ICO previously found that the electronic monitoring of migrants arriving via irregular routes was unlawful. PI has since submitted and analysed Freedom of Information requests to compare Home Office policies before and after the regulatory action to evaluate compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

PI's analysis concludes that the Home Office's response remains inadequate. Significant concerns persist about how few new safeguards will be implemented, and existing policies are described as contradictory. PI argues that this lack of clarity and consistency is a threat to the human rights of those subjected to tagging. Furthermore, improvements observed in certain documents were reportedly undermined by subsequent policy updates.

The report also criticises the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, adopted on 2 December 2025. PI claims the legislation overlooks the ICO's findings regarding the invasive and life-altering nature of continuous monitoring. It suggests that the Act seeks to mainstream electronic monitoring in an almost arbitrary fashion, lacking essential safeguards and failing to show due regard for fundamental human rights.

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