Blunkett to criticise UK surveillance state

Blunkett: Speaking out on civil liberties

David Blunkett, the authoritarian former home secretary who introduced the national identity scheme and slammed "airy fairy libertarians" who opposed it, will today warn the government that it is becoming a Big Brother state.

Giving the 21st annual law lecture at Essex University this evening, Blunkett will say that surveillance powers have become too widespread in the public sector and that current plans to share public information between government bodies go too far.

The Coroners and Justice Bill, currently in the Commons, contains powers to allow government bodies to share people's information.

Clarity on why, when and with whom data can be shared is urgently needed, Blunkett will say.

"It is not simply whether the intentions are benign - undoubtedly they are - but whether they are likely to be misused and, above all, what value their use may have," he is expected to say.

Blunkett will add that justice secretary Jack Straw is aware of the dangers and is likely to modify the proposals.

His views echo those of privacy watchdog the Information Commissioner's Office, which said last week that the draft information sharing powers were "too wide".

Blunkett will propose scrapping compulsory ID cards but recommend that all UK citizens be required to have a passport – a measure that would deliver the administrative improvements that ID cards were intended to address but avoid the Big Brother overtones the scheme has acquired.

But he will say the government is right to consult over its plans to construct a centralised database to track all internet traffic.

"But what is the point in keeping that data that simply cannot be used, that is too dense to properly collate or to apply in circumstances where it would be warranted?" he will say.

Blunkett will also defend CCTV cameras as necessary to protecting people.