Luke Piper 3 Million Interview

This interview, conducted by Sophia Akram for the Open Rights Group's Migrant Digital Justice Toolkit, features Luke Piper of the3million discussing the immigration exemption inserted into UK data protection legislation, which allows the Home Office to deny migrants access to their own personal data in the name of immigration control. Piper explains how the3million partnered with the Open Rights Group to pursue a judicial review — after exhausting lobbying and parliamentary routes — and ultimately won, though he notes the government has not fully implemented the court's directions. The interview covers the practical harms of the exemption (e.g. blocked subject access requests for people in detention), the growing opacity of digitised immigration systems, and candid reflections on the financial, legal, and organisational pressures of strategic litigation. It is particularly useful for civil-society organisations considering data-rights advocacy or litigation, though the content is specific to the UK immigration context and reflects the position of one campaigning organisation.