Under the (brilliant) headline ‘We’re Under Atax’ the Sun exclusively reveals today reveals the extent of the taxman’s snooping.
As our Freedom of Information request shows, Between 2009 and 2011, HRMC made 41,351 snooping requests for details of phone calls and mobile texts. The only police forces to make more requests in the same period were the Metropolitan police and Merseyside police.
Given how often these powers are being used by HMRC, it’s strange that nobody has mentioned the Government’s Snoopers’ charter will give the taxman access to who you email or chat online with and what websites you visit.
Indeed, this is before the Communications Data Bill comes in, the taxman is making more than 1,000 snooping requests every month – and clearly if it does ever become law, that number will explode.
The taxman doesn’t need to know if you’ve been reading the Sun online, nor does any other part of Government. But if the data is collected it’ll be a stampede for people to have a look, from the Health and Safety Executive to parking wardens.
