It has been reported that over 500,000 spying requests were made in the UK last year from authorities such as the Police force to local councils. This represents a substantial jump from the 350,000 requests in 2006 and is starting to worry some of the civil liberty groups in the UK.
Communications Commissioner Sir Paul Kennedy also confirmed that of the 500,000 plus requests, 1,707 were from local councils who have been accused of misusing the idea of the service. The power of surveillance was originally extended to an array of public bodies initially for anti-terrorist uses but things seem to have progressed to a whole new level.
Councils have been known to use the service to track fly tippers and those whom they suspect of evading council taxes. Even though the service only allows access to phone bills and internet page visits, and not actually listening in on phone calls, there are concerns that the so called Big Brother scenario is starting to grow.
When you consider the array of CCTV cameras in the UK as well as the option for public bodies to request permission to spy, the UK has to be one of the most closely monitored states in the world, but is the system being used for its original purpose? |
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