The Liberal Democrats called this week for reform of the
Data Protection Act, saying that it was 10 years out of
date.
Speaking at the party's conference, MP Nick Clegg said, "The
Data
Protection Act as it currently stands is 10 years out of date.
We all know just how far technology has moved on in the past decade
- it is essential that the law moves with it."
Clegg promised to boost the powers and resources of those
responsible for holding the government and private companies to
account.
He said most CCTV coverage is not subject to any regulation.
"That is a disgrace. That is why we are calling for a wholesale
reform of the Data Protection Act to reflect the world we live
in."
Clegg quoted information commissioner, Richard Thomas, saying we
are moving into a "surveillance society".
"So many of the government's obsessions with surveillance will
do nothing to make us safer," he said.
"
ID cards do not stop terrorists you only need look at the
Madrid bombings to know that. The 7/7 bombers could all have easily
got ID cards had they so wished."
He accused the government of "shamelessly using the politics of
fear" to promote the arbitrary expansion of the powers of the
state.
"When my kids start using their library at school, I want to
make sure the government does not use that as an excuse to take
their fingerprints," he said.
"When our private data [is] repeatedly and inappropriately
released into the public domain by companies I think they should
pay a financial penalty. And when government proposes yet more
legislation they must be forced to consider the impact it has on
our privacy."