The growing use of digital technologies within the social security system in Northern Ireland have been advanced with little or no oversight or scrutiny by the body politic, by oversight bodies or by the media.
The lack of transparency around these developments goes hand in hand with a lack of accountability, with the general public, civil society organisations as well as elected representatives on the whole being largely unaware of the increasing reach of digital technology within the social security system. Yet, as also noted, these developments are having profound impacts on people’s enjoyment not only of their civil and political rights but also their economic and social rights.
The use of covert surveillance by the state during the conflict in Northern Ireland, the full extent of which still remains largely unknown, was and continues to be hugely controversial. Entire civilian populations were deemed as ‘suspect communities’ and de facto criminalised. State agents committed serious crimes, including killings of civilians with impunity. Collusion with paramilitaries by state agents was widespread .
The legacy of this within those working class communities most impacted, including lack of trust and confidence in the state apparatus, continues into the present day. Human rights activists are now witnessing evidence of wholesale mission creep, starting with the state’s counter-insurgency project, through its immigration system and into its social protection system.
PPR welcomed the decision by the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty to investigate the impact of the introduction of digital technologies into social protection systems on human rights. In our submission to the Special Rapporteur we cover the following issues
- Investigation of fraud and error
-Private sector involvement in designing, building and operating digital technology in the social security system
- Lessons from the operation of the immigration system
-Impacts on young people, people living in poverty, women and rural communities
