Data laws need upgrade against 'surveillance society'

Tougher and better policed data protection legislation is needed to deal with an "explosion" in the amount of personal information collected by organisations.

The National Consumer Council (NCC) is warning that in the face of increasing levels of surveillance - such as ID cards and satellite based road pricing - existing data protection laws are failing to cope.

A survey commissioned by the NCC found that 84 per cent of those interviewed have less privacy than they did 10 years ago. And 78 per cent feel people have lost control over how their personal information is collected and used by organisations.

It warns that if no action is taken then the UK will pay the price in lost personal privacy and a collapse in trust between individuals and organisations.

NCC chief executive Ed Mayo said: "'New plans for road pricing using satellite tracking are just the latest example of the rapid advance of the information economy. We are living in a surveillance society but our data protection laws aren't up to the job."

He said research consistently shows that many companies fail to comply with data protection legislation - often unaware of their legal responsibilities.

"Giving the UK's personal information regulator auditing and inspection powers would help enforce new, tougher laws better," he said.

While there are some practical steps consumers can take to check for 'ID pollution', where the information held on them is incorrect or out-of-date, NCC research suggests most people aren't doing it.

Only one in 10 people has contacted a credit reference agency to check their credit report, or to ask to see their medical records.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing UK crimes - up sevenfold over the last five years.