Thread by @e_farries

SR @Alston_UNSR, what we see around the world, governments developing surveillance systems don't subject the middle class to the issues. that 'we have problems with the poor - welfare fraud, crime etc' means the poor are very often guinea pigs for new programs.

@Alston_UNSR Per SR @Alston_UNSR what we are dealing with today is very different from what could have been envisioned a few decades ago. Tech including algorithms and machine learning, transforms conversations about issues like the public services card.

@Alston_UNSR Per SR @Alston_UNSR the fact that tech allows for greater in roads into our privacy doesn't mean that governments can act irresponsibly or unaccountably.

@Alston_UNSR The SR is pointing out that in most countries welfare fraud is a much bigger problem for tabloid papers than it is in real life. Therefore spending millions of dollars on such a fictionalised problem is inappropriate.

@Alston_UNSR Also, for governments 'efficiency' normally means, not better serving you by making things faster, etc, but rather is about saving money. According to this definition the #psc is not very efficient!

@Alston_UNSR Further the convenience element, which does not need to be given up, is also not the primary concern regard to the #psc. Convenience doesn't need to be given up. Rather, a reasonable public debate needs to occur in the first instance.

@Alston_UNSR Prof Alston notes that systems like the #psc can in effect be mandatory because people don't have alternatives.

@Alston_UNSR SR's key issue is of transparency. We know very little about how the #psc is being implemented. It's clear that the private sector is playing a role that is complex and problematic. We don't know the restrictions are, or if the protections work.

@Alston_UNSR SR mentions infosys and its unclear role in the PSC. Infosys has a global presence. It celebrates interlinked registration systems overseas focused on *ahem* 'increasing the happiness of its citizens'. Private sectors as key players don't take account of rights complexities.

@Alston_UNSR The idea that an Irish system of registration can't be hacked, like systems elsewhere, is both optimistic and naive.

@Alston_UNSR 'Those celebrating the convenience of the #psc need to consider the intention of the government, and what precautions are built in. Governments getting their hands on comprehensive data about citizens are going struggle to resisting accessing that data and cross fertilising it.'

@Alston_UNSR Health data, interactions with police, educational outcomes-your whole history is potentially information for a biometric system like the #psc.' Protections need to be built in now, or there is no assurance that something as potentially far reaching as the #psc will not go astray

@Alston_UNSR The SR is pointing out that alarms bells will ring if the conclusion to the lengthy two year investigation by the Data Protection Commissioner is not made fully public.

@Alston_UNSR The SR concludes: if we are serious about the potential of new tech in the field of social protection, then the sky is the limit. States wouldn't be focusing simply on cost saving initiatives. Rather their focus would be on ever improved social protections for the people!

@Alston_UNSR Q&A - SR describes the Coordinated Entry Homeless Assistance Program - one US county's approach to organising services. Was told by a social welfare worker that when police approach bureaucrats for info in that database, it's handed over.

@Alston_UNSR 'It can be very difficult to build protective walls around collected data.' - @Alston_UNSR