Government databases risk surveillance society, says Information Commissioner

The UK is in danger of 'sleepwalking into a surveillance society' according to data protection watchdog Richard Thomas.

In an interview with The Times, Information Commissioner Richard Thomas echoed Computing's Data Debate campaign about the unco-ordinated proliferation of government databases including the planned identity card register, the citizen information project and the database of all children.

'I am not a Luddite,' said Thomas. 'There are reasons why we need to promote better information sharing where children are at risk, but whether the right answer is to create a database of every child in the country should be questioned.'

Thomas is also critical of the government's lack of clarity over plans for ID cards.

'The government has changed it line over the last two or three years as to what the card is intended for. You have to have clarity. Is it for the fight against terrorism? Is it to promote immigration control? Is it to provide access to public benefit and services?

'Various other reasons have been put forward... I don't think that is acceptable,' he said.

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