Big Brother Britain 'putting lives in danger' » Central Government » 24dash.com

Supermarket loyalty cards, CCTV schemes and Government projects such as the national identity cards scheme must be adapted to minimise the risk of a "Big Brother Britain", experts warned today.

A report on privacy and surveillance painted a frightening picture of a future where personal details could be hijacked and abused - possibly even placing lives in danger.

The Royal Academy of Engineering predicted that "biometric" details such as the fingerprints which will form part of the compulsory ID card scheme - could be compromised by terrorists and criminals.

Private information from a person's health records or even their shopping habits could be used against them in the future, it suggested.

"It is not entirely absurd to imagine that supermarkets' loyalty card data might one day be used by the Government to identify people who ignored advice to eat healthily, or who drank too much, so that they could be given a lower priority for treatment by the NHS," said the study.

Leaks of health records could jeopardise the lifestyle or employment prospects of patients or even expose them to risk of violence.

"Examples might be HIV status or a record showing that a woman had had a pregnancy terminated, or data showing that the paternity of a child could not be the presumed father."

Chairman of the report group, Professor Nigel Gilbert said: "We have supermarkets collecting data on our shopping habits, and also offering life insurance services.

"What will they be able to do in 20 years' time, knowing how many donuts we have bought?"

The document said biometric data stored on radio frequency microchips on passports and the Government's multi-billion pound ID card project could be "eavesdropped" by fraudsters.

The microchips, which can be read from a distance of several feet, could even be hijacked by terrorists, it suggested.

"With sensitive personal details readable over a distance, it could even become possible with appropriate antennas and amplification, to construct a bomb that would only detonate in the presence of a particular nationality or even a particular individual."

The report said solutions to the pitfalls could be provided by the "right engineering solutions".

For example, there should be greater protection of electronic personal data and stricter guidelines for those who hold such information, including CCTV images.

Co-author Dr Ian Forbes said: "If we are being watched we need to be able to watch the watchers."

Prof Gilbert said: "Engineers' knowledge and experience can help to 'design in privacy' into new IT developments.

"But first the Government and corporations must recognise that they put at risk the trust of citizens and customers if they do not treat privacy issues seriously."

He said he was not able to comment specifically about the security of the Government's ID card plans.

But he added: "In general, with all such systems, one needs to guard against failure.

"That failure may be as a result of criminal activity but it may also be as a result of simple human failure or technological failure."

Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "Under Labour we are progressively moving towards a surveillance society, with ID cards and the DNA database being just two examples.

"What is sinister is that Labour have not been honest about their intentions.

"They refuse to have a debate about the DNA database and have recently announced the police will be able to cross-check ID card records with unsolved crimes - way beyond what was agreed in Parliament.

"This is yet more evidence that the Government's £20 billion ID card project will not only fail to improve our security but could, in fact, make it worse."

He added: "With the Government's appalling record on running IT-based projects, the public will have little confidence the integrity of the ID card database will be protected."

Today's document followed a recent study from the Government's privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner, which warned Britain was becoming a "surveillance society".

The commissioner Richard Thomas said excessive use of CCTV and other information-gathering was creating a climate of suspicion.

It said there were an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain.

Director of human rights group Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, said: "This report sends a clear warning to public and private sectors with their insatiable appetite for our personal information.

"The desire for a little bit of privacy is part of being human and the nation's dignity should not be for sale. Smart politicians and businessmen take note."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "This report confirms that the Government's fascination with big centralised databases carries long-term dangers.

"There is little merit in pouring huge amounts of taxpayers' money into creating these databases if they not only threaten our privacy but also, as this report predicts, remain vulnerable to being used by terrorists and organised criminals.

"The Government must now pause in the construction of the surveillance state, which is happening behind the backs of the British people, and ensure a proper public debate before they proceed further."

Don't miss the 24dash.com audio bulletins for the latest news and information - http://www.24dash.com/podcasts