Dr. Warren Young* writes: In an article on October 23, the Herald reported that the Search and Surveillance Bill before Parliament would give “sweeping powers to spy, bug conversations and hack into private computers” to a web of state agencies. The bill arose from a Law Commission report that recommended comprehensive reform of search and…
Category: Surveillance
UK: Army of ‘citizen snoopers’ recruited by council to spy on neighbours
A council is enlisting 2,000 resident spies to report anti-social behaviour by their neighbours, it emerged today. The recruits, described by town hall chiefs as ‘Neighbourhood Champions’, will pass on evidence of graffiti, fly-tipping, litter and excessive noise. They could even be trained to report child abuse, domestic violence, racial harassment and other ‘hate crimes’….
New ‘smart’ electrical meters raise fresh privacy issues for consumers
Daniel Silva reports: The new ”smart meters” utilities are installing in homes around the world to reduce energy use raise fresh privacy issues because of the wealth of information about consumer habits they reveal, experts said Friday. The devices send data on household energy consumption directly to utilities on a regular basis, allowing the firms…
UK: Only a ‘minimal’ invasion of privacy: Snooping council spied on family 21 times in 3 weeks
A council which used controversial laws to spy on a mother and her family 21 times in three weeks insisted today that its actions only ‘minimally’ invaded their privacy. Poole Borough Council had also used Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) legislation on two other occasions to determine whether families were living in the right…