Tech & Rights

Belgium to Check Asylum Seekers' Phones to Confirm IDs

Belgian Migration Secretary Theo Francken said last week that he is preparing a bill to allow authorities to check asylum seekers' mobile phones and computers to verify their identities. He said that a European...

by LibertiesEU
(Image: ILO)

Belgian Migration Secretary Theo Francken said last week that he is preparing a bill to allow authorities to check asylum seekers' mobile phones and computers to verify their identities. He said that a European directive allows Belgium to craft laws that will force people applying for asylum to submit their phone or computer to verify their stories. "Between 60 and 70 percent of asylum seekers lie about an aspect of their identity, whether it’s their name or age, the route they followed or their country of origin," Francken said.

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