Campaign Groups Warn ‘Welfare Surveillance’ Proposals Could See People’s Bank Details Shared With State

An upcoming bill that could give the state extra powers to carry out checks on those who claim benefits is “welfare surveillance,” that will force banks to monitor millions of bank accounts on an unprecedented level, say privacy campaigners. The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill is due to be voted through the report stage in House of Commons on Wednesday. It is a few steps away from becoming law, as it needs to pass the Lords and Final Stages. However, privacy and data campaigners have warned that potentially monitoring millions of people sets “an incredibly dangerous precedent.” The wide-ranging bill seeks to “improve how the nation uses and accesses personal data, capitalising on the UK’s departure from the European Union.”...