Moves by Government to enforce surveillance by banks of accounts held by people in receipt of benefits, and extending this surveillance to their family members and even the account holder’s landlord are being challenged.

 

The party of individual freedom has gone full throttle towards surveillance society.

 

This surveillance will extend to expats in receipt of UK State pensioners and might be of concern if they have not declared their residence overseas.

 

https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/04/ministers-urged-to-scrap-plans-for-surveillance-of-benefit-claimants-bank-accounts

Everybody feeling free from govt intrusion and prying.

 

Govt increasingly using their banks to monitor and spy on people.

14 minutes ago, freeworld said:

Govt increasingly using their banks to monitor and spy on people.

Governments everywhere using modern technology to enforce the laws. Only those who constantly try to dodge the laws (and thus get an advantage over everyone else) need worry.

4 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Governments everywhere using modern technology to enforce the laws. Only those who constantly try to dodge the laws (and thus get an advantage over everyone else) need worry.

Which I guess is why the Government are not using the same powers to go after tax evasion.

33 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Governments everywhere using modern technology to enforce the laws. Only those who constantly try to dodge the laws (and thus get an advantage over everyone else) need worry.

Nah, even innocent people and companies are being scrutinised or have their lives turned upside down.

 

here is one link and there are many other horror stories online.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/business/banks-accounts-close-suddenly.html

 

Why Banks Are Suddenly Closing Down Customer Accounts

Surprised individuals and small-business owners can’t pay rent or make payroll, and no one ever explains what they did wrong.

 

Just a unilateral action by govt and their banks.

57 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This surveillance will extend to expats in receipt of UK State pensioners and might be of concern if they have not declared their residence overseas.

My thought was that no law abiding subject would do such thing...

2 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

My thought was that no law abiding subject would do such thing...

Perhaps, but it’s an observation that might be of interest to some expats living in Thailand.

1 hour ago, freeworld said:

Nah, even innocent people and companies are being scrutinised or have their lives turned upside down.

 

here is one link and there are many other horror stories online.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/05/business/banks-accounts-close-suddenly.html

 

Why Banks Are Suddenly Closing Down Customer Accounts

Surprised individuals and small-business owners can’t pay rent or make payroll, and no one ever explains what they did wrong.

 

Just a unilateral action by govt and their banks.

OK so, accepting that, the question is Why? I don't imagine banks close down accounts for the love of closing down accounts ...

29 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

OK so, accepting that, the question is Why? I don't imagine banks close down accounts for the love of closing down accounts ...

How can one find out if they will not tell you.

I'd rather the bank spied on my account than closed my "data-protected" account because of uncertainties. I need my account more than I need my transactions to be confidential.

54 minutes ago, freeworld said:

How can one find out if they will not tell you.

 

   Its usually because some authority is investigating your bank account as they suspect something fraudulent going on and the Bank cannot tell you because it could effect the investigation 

On 3/5/2024 at 12:01 PM, mfd101 said:

I don't imagine banks close down accounts for the love of closing down accounts ...

 

Unless, of course, they are on-shore accounts held by non-resident expats.