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Monday 31st May
Daily Mirror – From CCTV cameras to cashpoints, store cards to miles, Big Brother is recording your life
But it begs the question – is there anything we do that isn’t recorded? “We are constantly under surveillance,” says Dylan Sharpe of Big Brother Watch. “We’re tracked from the moment we leave the house. This sort of sophisticated surveillance is more reminiscent of Soviet Russia.
“We’ve more CCTV than any other country, we’re tracked on countless databases.”
The Herald Scotland – Security row after Google maps all UK WiFi networks
Google now faces a number of class-action lawsuits around the world from campaigners concerned that the internet giant is intercepting personal data.
The European Privacy Association and Big Brother Watch says the UK should also be investigating the amount of data Google holds about its users.
Guardian.co.uk – Matthew Sinclair: Libel fee structure is fundamentally unjust
But some cases do come to light. For example, Willard Foxton reported what happened to him on the Big Brother Watch website. He was editor of a new investigative magazine from legal publishers Chambers and Partners, Chambers Report.
Sunday 30th May
Ilford Recorder – Redbridge Council increase spying on residents
Saturday
29th May
Richmond and Twickenham Times – Richmond Council slammed for using ‘snooper law’ 14 times
Hillingdon Uxbridge Gazette – Hillingdon Council’s use of covert surveillance results in no prosecutions
Jack FM – Alex Deane interviewed on RIPA
Blackpool Gazette – I might sue over my scrapped ID card, says Blunkett
Northampton Chronicle – I might sue over my scrapped ID card, says Blunkett
Goole Courier – I might sue over my scrapped ID card, says Blunkett
Wakefield Express – I might sue over my scrapped ID card, says Blunkett
Sheffield Telegraph – I might sue over my scrapped ID card, says Blunkett
TalkSport – Alex Deane interviewed on RIPA
Friday
28th May
Daily Express – Labour’s ID cards scrapped
Alex Deane, of pressure group Big Brother Watch, said: “This is one in the eye for the authoritarian busybodies. Most people hated the ID cards.”
Daily Mirror – Inland Revenue sends up to 50,000 people’s details to wrong homes in tax blunder
Big Brother Watch, which campaigns against intrusions of privacy, demanded action from the coalition Government.
Spokesman Dylan Sharpe said: “This latest error again highlights the dangers of databases and the slack approach to private data in our civil service.”
BBC Radio 2 – Alex Deane interviewed on the Jeremy Vine Show
Yorkshire Post – Blunkett: I want my money back over ID cards
Sheffield Telegraph – I might sue over my scrapped ID card, says Blunkett
Your Canterbury.co.uk – Councils
accused of ‘Big Brother’ surveillance
Redbridge Guardian – Pressure mounting on council to curb surveillance on residents
Darlington and Stockton Times – Hambleton Council: an unlikely Big Brother
Kent Online – Councils accused of Big Brother surveillance
Bexley News Shopper – Council uses ‘terrorist’ powers to snoop on licensees
East Coast FM
Your Thanet.co.uk – Councils accused of ‘Big Brother’ surveillance
The Herald Scotland – Tax chiefs say sorry for private bank data blunder
Rochdale Online – Is the Council using ‘Big Brother’ spies?
Thursday
27th May
BBC Breakfast – Alex Deane interviewed on CCTV
Daily Telegraph – ID cards to be axed within 100 days
Alex Deane, of pressure group Big Brother Watch, said: “The ID card
scheme’s demise is one in the eye for the authoritarian busybodies.”
Daily Mail – Coalition scraps Labour’s £5billion ID card scheme
BBC Radio Newcastle
Minster FM – 50,000 Affected By Data Blunder At HMRC
V3.co.uk – ICO criticised for stance on Google Wi-Fi scandal
Evening Standard – We need police to watch our streets, not CCTV cameras
Waltham Forest Guardian – Police plan filming to stop violence
Dylan Sharpe of Big Brother Watch, which campaigns against invasions of privacy, said: “Britain already has more CCTV cameras than any other country, yet the Metropolitan Police have admitted that just one crime is solved for every 1000 cameras in London.
“Mass surveillance doesn’t stop criminals and it only has a marginal effect on solving crimes. Rather than increasing the number of cameras, Waltham Forest should be putting more police on the streets.”
Bromley Times – Council ‘spied’ on residents 150 times
Northwood Gazette – Councils defend use of spying powers in Three Rivers and Hertfordshire
Southern Daily Echo – Snooping powers used more and more by councils
Kable – CCTV regulation set to impact councils
The council has spent over £20m installing CCTV cameras and has 1,113, according to Freedom of Information data compiled by campaign group Big Brother Watch in December 2009. The group said that this is more per person than any other London borough, with 4.3 cameras for each 1,000 people.
ourKingdom – Alex Deane: So far, so good – but there is more to come for ID cards
Yahoo News – ICO criticised for stance on Google Wi-Fi scandal
Society of Procurement Officers – CCTV regulation set to impact councils
24dash.com – National ID cards scheme to be scrapped ‘within 100 days’
Silobreaker – Council denies Big Brother Watch claims
Wednesday
26th May
BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire
Law Society Gazette – Smile for the camera because Big Brother is watching you
Burton Mail – Council use of snooping laws is not getting results
Lincolnshire Echo – Council spies follow 117 innocent people over the last two years
Hounslow Chronicle – Richmond Council slammed for ‘spying on residents’
Get Surrey – Surveillance powers used by Surrey County Council
The Stirrer – I spy with my little eye
Mix 96.co.uk – Bucks County Council Carried Out 74 Surveillance Operations
Tuesday
25th May
GMTV – Alex Deane interviewed regarding Queen’s Speech
Guardian.co.uk – Alex Deane: Councils should be stopped from spying
Oxford Mail – Councils defend use of CCTV to fight fraud
Lancashire Evening Post – Council spies lead to just 15 prosecutions
Oldham Evening Chronicle – Council calls-off ‘Big Brother’ spies
Liverpool Echo – Merseyside councils used snoop law against own staff
Liverpool Echo – Do surveillance cameras pay their way for Liverpool city council?
Birmingham Mail – Walsall Council defends spying on locals
Waltham Forest Guardian – Council featured in report on surveillance use
Salisbury Journal – New figures on council ‘spy powers’
Bucks Free Press – One in seven council ‘spy’ led to prosecutions in Buckinghamshire
Witney Gazette – Councils defend use of CCTV to fight fraud
BBC Radio Teeside
Leith FM
BBC Radio Merseyside
Mix 96 Buckinghamshire
BBC Oxfordshire
eGov Monitor – Local Councils Abuse RIPA To Snoop on More Than 8500 Targets Including Own Staff
Monday
24th May
The Times – Smokers and tramps join 8,000 council surveillance targets
Councils carried out more than 8,500 secret snooping operations on members of the public during the past two years,including spying on dog owners, fly tippers and loan sharks, according to a report published today.
Secret surveillance operations also took place against smokers, suspected benefit fraudsters, vagrants buying alcohol for under-18s and people repairing vehicles in the street.
Alex Deane, the director of Big Brother Watch, which carried out the survey, based on freedom of information requests, said: “Now that the absurd and excessive use of Ripa surveillance has been revealed, these powers have to be taken away from councils.
Daily Telegraph – Councils using anti-terror laws to spy on dog walkers
Guardian – Councils carry out over 8,500 covert surveillance operations
The Independent – Councils’ covert surveillance operations revealed
Daily Mail – How town hall snoopers are watching you: Councils use anti-terror laws to spy on charity shops and dog-walkers
Daily Express – Town hall snoopers use terror laws to trap charity donors
Daily Mirror – Big Bro still spying with ConDems
The Sun – 11 snoops every day
Evening Standard – Councils
‘abusing spying powers’
Daily Star – You’re spied on 11 times a day!
Metro – Town halls spy on us 11 times a day
BBC Radio 4 Today Programme – Listen here
Ipswich Evening Star – Concern over use of ‘snooping’ law
Buckinghamshire Advertiser – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
Yorkshire Post – Spies snooped Councils misuse terror powers
Beccles and Bungay Journal – Concern over use of ‘snooping’ law
Cumbria News and Star – Cumbria council uses terror laws to nick dog foulers
Crosby Herald – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
East London Advertiser – Big Brother Watch slams local councils for ‘spying’ on public
Sunday Sun – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
Newcastle Evening Chronicle – Newcastle City Council keeping an eye on us
Herald Scotland – Controversy over councils’ secret spying
Sheffield Telegraph – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
The Lowestoft Journal – Concern over use of ‘snooping’ law
Press and Journal – Councils abusing surveillance rights – report
Flintshire Chronicle – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
Newbury Today – West Berkshire Council is among the highest in the country for spying on people
North Wales Daily Post – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
Daily Record – Councils snoop on pooches
Uxbridge Gazette – ‘Spying powers’ have not led to prosecution
Cambridge News – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
East Anglian Daily Times – Concern over use of ‘snooping’ law
Burton Mail – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
Peterborough Evening Telegraph – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
Redbridge Advertiser – Council ‘spying’ up three-fold
Allerdale News and Star – Allerdale council using terror laws to nick dog foulers
Oxford Times – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
Derbyshire Times – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
BBC Radio Gloucestershire
BBC Radio Newcastle
City Radio Liverpool
106 Time FM
BBC Radio York
96.4FM BRMB Radio Birmingham
BBC Radio Scotland
Hertfordshire Jack FM
Pirate FM Radio Cornwall
BBC Radio West Midlands
LBC 97.3 FM
BBC Radio York
Telegraph.co.uk – Councils should not be allowed to spy on people
The excellent Big Brother Watch group, which has chronicled Britain’s descent into one gigantic film set for the 1984 remake, has published new research chronicling the widespread, almost ubiquitous, use of surveillance powers by local councils, conducting over 8,500 RIPA operations in the past two years.
MSN News – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
LocalGov.co.uk – Survey highlights council surveillance ‘offenders’
Tech Eye.net – Councils use absurd excuses to spy on us – official
Public Service – Is your local council watching you?
24Dash.com – Grim Ripa report exposes councils’ ‘absurd’ use of surveillance powers
Local Government Lawyer – Councils conducting eleven RIPA surveillance operations “every day”: campaign group
Top News – Councils misusing Ripa powers
Press Association – Councils ‘abusing spying powers’
Third Sector – People leaving donation bags outside charity shops have been subject to surveillance by local councils
Telegraph.co.uk – Failure to scoop a poop: an act of terrorism?
ConservativeHome – The Grim Ripa
Swell Pets – Dog walkers snooped on while out with dog leads
Sunday
23rd May
News of the World – Councils spy on dog owners, charity donors and smokers
YOU’VE been framed! Armies of council spies with video and CCTV are secretly monitoring Britain – out to nail us on a string of petty offences like not using a pooper scooper.
Civil liberties group Big Brother Watch releases its report “The Grim RIPA” tomorrow detailing the worst excesses. Director Alex Deane said: “This shows our calls for the removal of RIPA from councils cannot be ignored. They’re not responsible enough to use these intrusive powers.”
News of the World Blog – Council snoopers keep on snooping
Friday
21st May
BBC Surrey and Sussex – Alex Deane interviewed by Danny Pike
Thursday
20th May
Newcastle Gazette – Pat Thompson’s daughter tells of heartache
In the past, concerns have been raised over Google Earth and Google
Street View amid fears they could be used as a “window shopping” tool by
burglars.
Alex Deane, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch,
said: “We have warned since Google Earth began that it not only intruded
on privacy, but also posed real dangers to potential victims of crime.
This case tragically confirms that, in the worst possible way.”
Fox News – Britain’s deputy chief will scrap ID card program, trim DNA database in civil liberties push
No figure on the total number of CCTV cameras in
Britain is known, though applications under Freedom of Information laws
in 2009 disclosed that town halls operate about 60,000 — up from 21,000
in 1999.
Dylan Sharpe, of Big Brother Watch, a campaign
group which carried out the 2009 research, said many plans in Clegg’s
speech appeared sketchy.
“It’s brilliant on big ideas, all
of which we are in agreement with — but it’s not so strong on the
detail,” Sharpe said.
Boston Globe – British leader vows to scale back surveillance of citizenry
Wednesday 19th May
Sky News – Dylan Sharpe interviewed by Martin Stanford
Public Service – Intrusive IT projects ‘have to stop’
Big Brother Watch’s Alex Deane said he welcomed the changes, but warned the real challenge will be implementing the reforms in the face of strong opposition from the civil service.
“Local councils and the police are very protective of CCTV and the DNA database; bureaucrats love their power; there will also be calls for a system to replace the ContactPoint database. This government must learn from the mistakes of its predecessor and not bow to such pressures,” he said.
The Portsmouth News – Children’s Minister stands down from school CCTV firm
BBC Sussex and Surrey – Dylan Sharpe interviewed about Nick Clegg’s Great Reform Act speech
Canada Business Online – Britain’s deputy chief will scrap ID card program, trim DNA database in civil liberties push
Associated Press – UK’s Clegg plans civil liberties drive
Guardian.co.uk – The Technology newsbucket
Although it’s widely supposed that over the past decade there has been a significant increase in the number of surveillance cameras in the UK, it wasn’t until last year that hard numbers emerged via a Freedom of Information request. Big Brother Watch, an anti-surveillance campaign group, found that the number of council-owned cameras had risen from 21,000 to 60,000 in less than ten years — equal to one CCTV camera for every 1,000 people in the country
Tuesday
18th May
ITV Central – Alex Deane interviewed on CCTV
Daily Express – ‘Spy on your neighbours’ bins’ says council
Last night there were warnings that local authorities nationwide will follow Hull City Council’s lead in signing up neighbourhood spies.
Alex Deane, of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “Cash-strapped councils are increasingly recruiting residents to do their dirty work, creating a nation of citizen snoopers.
“Hull council has taken the lead by forming a bin Stasi, creating a scheme whereby people are encouraged to inform on others. It is creepy and extreme – totally disproportionate.”
SunTalk – Alex Deane interviewed on NICE home inspections
Warrington Guardian – Children’s minister quits firm role
Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “Tim Loughton could not plausibly hold on to a directorship of this company when appointed education minister in a Government which has pledged to roll back the surveillance state.
“He had to give up one or the other. Just in time, he has made the right decision.”
Buxton Advertiser – Children’s Minister stands down from school CCTV firm
Monday
17th May
BBC Look North – Alex Deane interviewed regarding Hull bin snooping
BBC Radio Humberside – Alex Deane interviewed by Peter Levy
Saturday
15th May
Corus FM – Alex Deane interviewed on Roy Green Show
Thursday
13th May
Colourful Radio – Alex Deane interviewed on civil liberties in the new coalition
Alex Deane speaks to Oxford Union: “This House Believes That Civil Liberties should always come before Public Security, even when confronting International Terrorism.”
Wednesday
12th May
Alex Deane interviewed about civil liberties in Britain on Talk Radio Europe
Talk Radio Europe – Wednesday news round-up
Dylan Sharpe, campaign director of Big Brother Watch has said that the whole handling of the care record system has been sneaky and under hand, with the government doing anything to prevent people of opting out of the system.
Tuesday
11th May
Smooth Radio – Alex Deane interviewed about Mayor Bloomberg’s visit to London to inspect London Underground CCTV
Top News Singapore – NHS scaring patients into accepting electronic records database
Monday
10th May
Pulse – NHS ‘scaring patients’ over electronic records
The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail this morning cover the charge from privacy campaigners Big Brother Watch that Connecting for Health may be ‘scaring’ patients into agreeing to have a Summary Care Record.
The lobby group accused Connecting for Health of overstating the risk to patients if they opt out of the system, after a Department of Health spokesman apparently contradicted dire warnings placed on the Connecting for Health website.
Children and Young People Now – In the News
BBC Radio Sussex – Dylan Sharpe interviewed by Danny Pike
Daily Telegraph – NHS ‘scaring patients into accepting electronic records database’
Yesterday the Big Brother Watch lobby group accused Connecting for Health of overstating the risk to patients if they opt out of the system, after a Department of Health spokesman said the problem of lost paper records was not “significant” as the agency claimed.
Dylan Sharpe, the Big Brother Watch campaign director, told the Daily Mail: “If you value your privacy ignore these false and misleading warnings and opt out.”
Sunday 9th May
Mail on Sunday – The patients ‘bullied’ into joining NHS database
Dylan Sharpe, campaign director of Big Brother Watch, said: ‘The whole handling of the summary care record system has been sneaky and underhand, with the government doing anything to prevent people from opting out of the system.
‘If you value your privacy, ignore these false and misleading warnings and opt out.’
The Scotsman – Dani Garavelli: Just the style that’s criminal
So sentence Drummond for his crimes by all means. But let his offences against good taste remain a matter for his conscience alone. For, as Alex Deane, the director of the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, so eloquently put it: “The proper punishment for the comically low-riding trousers favoured by some people is that we all think they look ridiculous.”
Saturday 8th May
Corus FM – Alex Deane interviewed on Roy Green Show
Thursday 6th May
Daily Echo – Crimes against fashion
Ellis Drummond, 18, faced a ban on the clothing because he was considered to be wearing it in an ‘intimidatory manner’.
He was backed by civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, which claimed the original Asbo would have been completely unenforceable’.
Director Alex Deane told newspapers: “The proper punishment for the comically low-riding trousers favoured by some people is that we all think they look ridiculous.”
Wednesday
5th May
The Times – Judge rules Asbo on low-slung trousers illegal
Alex Deane, director of the civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said: “The proper punishment for the comically low-riding trousers favoured by some people is that we all think they look like idiots.”
The Sun – Low trouser Asbo is pants
Alex Deane, of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, said: “There is no human right to show your pants.
The Scottish Sun – Low trouser Asbo is pants
Sky News – Teenager Escapes Asbo Ban On Trousers
The Daily Express – Yob wins as Asbo is scrapped due to human rights breach
The Daily Star – Pants rule breaches human rights
Alex Deane interviewed by Jon Gaunt on SunTalk
Daily Mirror – Low trousers ban broke yob’s rights
The Register – Judge de-ASBOes yoof’s low-slung kecks
Alex Deane interviewed on BBC Radio Northampton
Alex Deane interviewed on BBC Radio Sussex
Yahoo News – Teenager Escapes Asbo Ban On Trousers
The Metro – Lawyers claim anti-social trousers ban on teenager is pants
Tuesday
4th May
Daily Mail – Yob wins right to wear trousers that show his underpants after judge said Asbo ruling would ‘breach human rights’
Alex Deane, director of civil liberties Big Brother Watch, said the Asbo would have been ‘completely unenforceable’.
He said: ‘As in this case, the term “human rights” is frequently abused, rightly leading to ridicule. There is no human right to show people your pants.
‘The proper punishment for the comically low-riding trousers favoured by some people is that we all think they look like idiots.’
Monday 3rd May
Wired – Investigation: A sharp focus on CCTV
Although it’s widely supposed that over the past decade there has been a significant increase in the number of surveillance cameras in the UK, it wasn’t until last year that hard numbers emerged via a Freedom of Information request.
Big Brother Watch, an anti-surveillance campaign group, found that the number of council-owned cameras had risen from 21,000 to 60,000 in less than ten years — equal to one CCTV camera for every 1,000 people in the country. Its report demonstrated a trebling of investment in local CCTV — even though Home Office research published in 2002 suggested that CCTV has a negligible impact on reducing crime.
Sunday 2nd May
Alex Deane interviewed on Roy Green Show
