UK government's bank data sharing plan slammed as 'financial snoopers' charter'

The UK government plans to revive a Fraud, Error and Debt Bill that would expand DWP powers by requiring banks and financial institutions to share data to identify benefit fraud, aiming to save £1.6 billion over five years and promising oversight, codes of practice, and safeguards for vulnerable claimants. Privacy campaigners at Big Brother Watch condemn the measures as a “financial snoopers’ charter” enabling suspicionless monitoring of millions, while the DWP insists it will not access people’s bank accounts directly or share personal information with third parties.