UK MP Steps In To Protect Users Against Government Surveillance On The Bank Accounts

Several Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK have proposed a parliamentary motion against the grant of new legal powers to the government. These powers will allow them to watch over millions of people’s bank accounts. The MPs are certain that it poses the threat of triggering a scandal resembling the Post Office Horizon incident.

The aim is for surveillance to happen through changes suggested in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. These changes would require building societies and UK banks to share information about holders of account in their ecosystem with the Department for Work and Pensions.

The UK Parliament Moves To Stop Excessive Surveillance Of Customers’ Accounts

The motion says that the government might get new powers from the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. These powers could let them watch lots of people’s bank accounts, which worries the house a lot.

It continued, claiming that the legal change would make banks watch over 23 million people in the welfare system. This includes disabled people, those who are sick, job seekers, caregivers, pensioners, and even their family members, like partners, landlords, parents, and neighbors.

The Members of Parliament also noted that the new surveillance would depend on systems that utilize artificial intelligence to watch recipients’ accounts. They worry that this could lead to a scandal like the one with the Post Office Horizon system.

It was noted by Congress that the new surveillance system would have to rely on systems that make use of artificial intelligence to monitor receivers’ accounts. This leads to a fear that the scandal with the post office horizon system could repeat itself.

Members from the Democratic Unionist Party, Scottish National Party, Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party. and sixteen other MPs have supported the motion. They

Now sitting independently in the congress are some supporters whose party whips have been removed, they include four MPs. In this list are the past Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn and the former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott. Many other past shadow frontline leaders who also supported the motion are Jon Trickett, Clive Lewis, and John McDonnell.

The UK Government Will Monitor The Data-Sharing Method of Top Companies

Most matters at the congress are not to be debated but to create a kind of awareness for the congress.

The MP’s disagreement with the proposed leadership powers became obvious. The civil society group’s appeals that the dealings meted out were too strict. If not properly handled, it would go against the right of privacy that has been legitimately placed.

The governmental changes have been predicted to result in about 7,400 scam prosecutions per annum. One-third of it will need legal aid, assuring that about 250 would probably end up in jail.

The government also wants to ensure that companies do not breach the data-sharing privileges and expose users to fraudulent risks. The idea is to protect the interests of the consumers and protect their rights.