US Edition New powers to halt the march of the surveillance society will be proposed by the privacy watchdog today.
Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, wants greater safeguards against excessive intrusion by the state and business. He is the first witness at an inquiry by the Commons home affairs committee into the profusion of CCTV cameras and databases. Britain has an estimated five million CCTV cameras, one fifth of the world's total and the average Londoner could be monitored by 300 cameras a day.
Mr Thomas says public confidence in surveillance technology needs to be restored and he wants his Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to be given the power to carry out enforced inspections and audits to ensure data protection laws are not being breached.
Mr Thomas has grown increasingly alarmed by the erosion of privacy and the extension of state surveillance. He warned yesterday of the risks of identity mistakes, security breaches and "unnecessary intrusion into people's lives and loss of personal autonomy''. ''There is a concern that too much surveillance will create a climate of fear and suspicion," he said.
"It is essential that, before new surveillance technologies are introduced, full consideration is given to the impact on individuals and that safeguards are in place to minimise intrusion."
One idea is the introduction of privacy impact assessments requiring organisations to set out how they will minimise the threat to privacy when they introduce new measures, such as a database. Similar assessments are common in Australia and America.
Mr Thomas said: "While I do not believe that we are living in the type of society associated with totalitarian reg-imes, it is important that there is a vigorous debate around the issue - about where lines should be drawn and the restrictions and safeguards which are needed.'
''Balance is needed and there must be limits. No one wants their electronic footprint to expose every aspect of their daily life. Positive action is required to ensure the potential risks do not manifest themselves. Otherwise, the trust and confidence which individuals must have in all organisations that hold information about them will be placed in jeopardy."
Evidence to be submitted to the committee by the ICO today says advances in technology means that we all now leave an electronic footprint behind. Trying to find information on a computer, making a phone call, paying with a card, using 'joined up' government services or walking down a street where CCTV is in operation is all monitored.