http://www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk.  You can find Big Brother Watch on Twitter at @bbw1984.

Police sacked for iPhone photo breach

One of the most privileged powers the Police force in the United Kingdom have is the ability, with the agreement of a magistrate, to enter the business premises and private homes of those they suspect of being involved in criminal activities.

When these powers are used, the public expect the officers who are granted permission to enter private residences to hold to the highest of professional standards.

NHS care record system database 'unworkable'

Today,  the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee released a report saying that the electronic care records system, part of the National Programme for IT in the NHS launched in 2002, has proved to be “beyond the capacity of the Department to deliver.”

The report stated that the system has failed to show that the already £2.7 billion spent have had any benefit thus far.  It has come to the conclusion that due to a number of failures, including “weak programme management” from the Department of Heath, it will not proceed with this element of the project.

Russian dictatorship pushes for internet censorship

Over the past few years, the Russian Federation has ceased to even mildly resemble a functioning democracy.  Bit by bit, the dictatorial cabal surrounding Prime Minister – and de facto dictator – Vladimir Putin has centralised power, conducted extra-judicial killings, launched aggressive military and economic attacks on its weaker neighbours and and turned the democratic process into little more than a sham.

£300 fine for failing to display state-sanctioned 'no smoking' signs

Regardless of one’s views on smoking, the overwhelming majority of Big Brother Watch supporters would agree it should be left up to the owner of an individual business as to how to communicate to their customers that smoking is forbidden on their premesis.

An astonishing report in The Publican this morning suggests that the owners of a pub in North Wales have been fined £300 for failing to  display the correct, state-sanctioned anti-smoking signs.

Media Coverage

The Sun - Cops film EVERY car in and out of Royston

Daniel Hamilton, director of Big Brother Watch, said: "These digital checkpoints have no place in our liberal, democratic society."

Sunday Express – Police ‘hacking into secret files’

Big Brother Watch, which campaigns against intrusions on privacy, found 904 police officers and staff were subject to internal disciplinary procedures for breaching data protection laws between 2007 and 2010.

On top of that, 243 received criminal convictions for breaching the Data Protection Act, while 98 had their employment terminated for breaking the regulations.

Last night Big Brother Watch director Daniel Hamilton said: “Not only have police employees been found to have run background records checks on friends and ­possible partners but some have been convicted for passing sensitive information to criminal gangs and drug dealers. There’s clearly a big problem here and a growing culture of data protection laws being flouted. Police forces need to act now.”

Mr Hamilton said: “Given the heightened sensitivity in light of the phone hacking and police corruption scandals, police forces need to act now to restore the public’s already shaken confidence in them.”

Sunday Telegraph – Little town under Big Brother’s gaze [not available online]

He insisted that the scheme was “entirely lawful” and that 90 per cent of Royston’s 15,000 residents supported the use of ANPR. The pressure groups Big Brother Watch, Privacy International and No CCTV have written to the Information Commissioner’s Office challenging the legality of the cameras.

Daniel Hamilton, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “Logging the movements of tens of thousands of innocent people living in the area is grossly disproportionate.”

The Guardian - Welcome to Royston... you're under surveillance. Police plans to put cameras on every road to a quiet market town are causing privacy worries. [not available online]

In June, three campaign groups - NoCCTV, Privacy International and Big Brother Watch - made a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office, alleging the Royston ANPR installation is illegal.

Tech Eye - Researchers work out social security from Facebook Face-ID

According to spokesperson for privacy watchdog Big Brother Watch, Maria Fort, more should be done to ensure that the public is aware of the potential danger of social media misuse.

"Advances in the accuracy of facial recognition software are rapidly outpacing public awareness on internet privacy," she told us. "The increasing ease with which people can match the image of an individual to a Facebook profile, education, employment history and National Insurance number means that anyone with the right technology has access to your most personal information.

These kinds of programmes are fascinating advances on their own, but the potential for misuse is incredibly great, particularly when the public is unaware.