New bills could affect civil liberties

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Two bills announced in the Queen's Speech will contain "extraordinary" data sharing and enforcement powers for the government.

NO2ID has accused the government of burying the new proposed powers in "obscure bills", with a controversial data sharing proposal included in the Coroners and Justice Bill and a power to demand a member of the public to present his/her ID card in the Immigration and Citizenship Bill.

The data sharing proposal was criticised by NO2ID when it was first discovered in the government's response to the recent Thomas/Walport Data Sharing Review, commissioned by the Prime Minister. In November Justice Secretary Jack Straw put forward the proposal to give ministers the power to use existing data for other purposes, without any actual legislation required.

"Rather than protecting our personal information, as it should be, the government is cutting away safeguards for its own data-trafficking convenience. This is a bill to smash the rule of law and build the database state in its place," said Phil Booth, NO2ID's national coordinator.

"Burying sweeping constitutional change in obscure bills is an appalling approach. Having proved - and admitted - they cannot be trusted to look after our secrets, they are still determined to steal what privacy we have left. Parliament needs to wake up before it has no say any more."

The Immigration and Citizenship Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech and still only partially drafted, is expected to contain proposals that will require members of the public to produce official identification on demand. According to NO2ID that could make it compulsory to carry ID cards or a passport at all times. In addition, the bill may also make it compulsory for all bed and breakfast and/or hotel guests to be registered and reported to the relevant authorities.

"This bill to 'simplify immigration' will affect everyone. It even changes what it means to be British. Clearly the Home Office already thinks of citizens as suspects; this law would make it so," Booth added.

The Communications Data Bill, which would have sanctioned the recording of every UK person's telephone, email and internet records has not been announced in the Queen's Speech. It is expected to be introduced after the next election, which commentators believe will be in 2010.