[Infowarrior] - Really? UK is not a surveillance society, MPs claim

[Richard Forno]

Paging Doctor Orwell......rf


UK is not a surveillance society, MPs claim
Well, not yet anyway
By John Oates → More by this author
Published Sunday 8th June 2008 00:02 GMT
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/08/home_affairs_report_surveillance/

The Home Affairs Committee has called on the government to follow a  
"minimum data, held for the minumum time" approach to British  
citizens' personal information in its long-awaited report into  
surveillance.

The Committee has decided, after a year long investigation, that the  
UK is not becoming a surveillance society but warns that function  
creep still poses a danger. That said, it did not look at ID cards but  
warned that function creep could again raise concerns of increased  
surveillance of citizens. After recent government data losses it  
demanded the Home Office show more detailed plans for how it will make  
the National Identity Register secure.

It expressed particular concerns that increasing use of databases to  
store information on children could be used for predictive profiling,  
with the state singling out children deemed by computers to be likely  
future criminals.

On Home Office use of databases and sharing data the committee said  
there were three questions to be answered: "Where should the balance  
between protecting the public and preserving individual freedom lie?  
How should this balance shift according to the seriousness of the  
crime? What impact will this have on the individual and on our society  
as a whole?"

The politicians also suggested a broader role for the Information  
Commissioner's Office. The ICO should provide Parliament with an  
annual report on UK surveillance. It should provide resources to work  
with the government's chief information officer to improve privacy  
protection. The committee supported the ICO's demand for better  
inspection and audit powers.

The ICO could also have a role in carrying out "Privacy Impact  
Assessments" to be carried out before the Home Office starts a new  
information gathering project or extends an existing project. PIAs  
would look at risks and would aim to put in place some protection  
while the project was being designed. The committee noted that  
procedures around who can access such information were as important as  
technology in keeping data safe.

On CCTV use the committee asked the Home Office to carry out more  
research to show whether or not its use has any impact on reducing  
crime. It called for a debate before any expansion of the national DNA  
database and primary legislation to regulate its use.

The committee said it was concerned about the HMP Woodhill case -  
where conversations between an MP and his constituent were recorded in  
breach of the Wilson doctrine.

The talking shop also looked at the Regulation of Investigatory Powers  
Act. It wants the Home Office to raise public awareness of how and  
when communications data could be collected and used. It said it had  
serious concerns about the use of the Act for minor crimes.

The Home Office should make a public statement when a new organisation  
gets RIPA authorisation, it said.

Such suggestions are moot because the Government is expected to  
introduce legislation to replace RIPA in the next session of  
Parliament. We'll have to wait and see whether Gordon Brown and Jacqui  
Smith accept any of the other suggestions. ®