Data protection bill: Will the UK government soon be able to spy on your bank account?

An online petition calling on the UK government to abandon plans for “mass bank spying powers” is nearing its target of 200,000 signatures as privacy campaigners slam new measures aiming to combat fraud.

The government will likely soon be able to check the bank accounts of state benefit recipients under new plans to torch out rising numbers of fraudulent claimants and reduce errors, which cost roughly £8bn per year.

The UK’s biggest banks would automatically flag suspicious activity to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), via continuous monitoring of accounts.
The government has said the measures would save taxpayers £600m over the next five years.

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Produced by: Larissa Howie, Scarlett Wild, Emmanuel Nwosu, Lars Mucklejohn

[samuelaubrey]

This is incredibly messed up when you think about all the tax avoidance that MP's are involved in.

[KPSS]

Any banks not participating in this BS ?

[orrickmedia]

im angry the fact hes been testing a percentage already of bank accounts! without our permission, how does he get away with , just because you can do.something doesnt mean you should, and thats rishi

[infinxte]

as if they dont do all this stuff already. these bills are just a public announcement to let us know they do it

[Ribod]

Another Brexit benefit....will they ever end!?

[ImJustGoingToSay.....]

The DWP phoned me today wanting a copy of my bank statements, if I don't cooperate with them and give the information they're asking for they said my benefits can be stopped. I'm so stressed out and need help on what to do