The Labour government is set to revive a controversial policy initially proposed by the Conservatives, granting the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) new powers to monitor bank accounts in an effort to combat benefit fraud. The new Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will require banks to share data with the government to identify fraudulent claims. The policy has sparked concerns over privacy, but the DWP has reassured the public that the measures will be targeted and focused on specific benefits. Critics argue the policy could lead to overreach and unnecessary surveillance of vulnerable individuals.
@6DL7B4QProgressive2mos2MO
It's really disappointing to see Labour backing such an invasive policy that feels straight out of the Conservative playbook. Instead of criminalizing people on benefits and invading their privacy, they should be focusing on building a fairer welfare system that addresses the root causes of poverty. This kind of surveillance will likely just punish vulnerable people who already have enough to worry about.
Here we go again—another excuse for the government to invade our privacy and keep tabs on us in the name of "fraud prevention."
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
DWP fraud checks likely to target bank accounts of people on these four benefits
An expert has warned that DWP investigators looking into the bank accounts of individuals suspected of benefit fraud are likely to focus on claimants of four specific benefits. New powers coming in under Labour's Fraud,
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
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