A group of UK MPs has filed a parliamentary motion urging the government to eliminate provisions in a new bill that they believe would lead to mass surveillance of millions of bank accounts.
The early day motion, titled "Government Surveillance of Bank Accounts," has been sponsored by six Labour MPs and supported by 23 additional members from various parties. The motion expresses concern over new powers in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, stating that lawmakers are "deeply alarmed" by the potential implications.
If enacted, the bill would mandate banks and building societies to proactively provide information about account holders to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Currently, the DWP can only review account data for individuals suspected of fraud.
The MPs argue that these new authorities would compel banks to monitor 23 million individuals in the welfare system, including disabled people, caregivers, jobseekers, and pensioners, as well as accessing the private banking information of their associates, such as partners, parents, and landlords.
Additionally, the motion raises concerns about the use of AI to track accounts and detect suspicious activity, warning of the potential for a scandal reminiscent of the Post Office Horizon case, where innocent individuals faced wrongful prosecutions and severe repercussions.
The MPs emphasize that the government already possesses considerable powers to scrutinize the bank statements of fraud suspects under existing legislation and are calling for the removal of the new powers proposed in the bill.
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