Jake Hurfurt
@jhurfurt.bsky.social
Investigator, journalist, occasional photographer and all round flâneur. Run investigations for Big Brother Watch. Into surveillance, civil liberties, state power and transparency.
I've spent years investigating surveillance at the heart of the digital welfare state, every time those who need support lose out.
It's time for the DWP to stop treating everyone as a suspect in the machine, and stop operating in the shadows. Dignity must be at the heart of the welfare state.
It's time for the DWP to stop treating everyone as a suspect in the machine, and stop operating in the shadows. Dignity must be at the heart of the welfare state.
January 22, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I've spent years investigating surveillance at the heart of the digital welfare state, every time those who need support lose out.
It's time for the DWP to stop treating everyone as a suspect in the machine, and stop operating in the shadows. Dignity must be at the heart of the welfare state.
It's time for the DWP to stop treating everyone as a suspect in the machine, and stop operating in the shadows. Dignity must be at the heart of the welfare state.
Privacy & fair treatment are not the preserve of the wealthy - and state support must not be conditional on submitting to outrageous intrusions.
These powers will harm the vulnerable much more than they stop committed fraudsters.
These powers will harm the vulnerable much more than they stop committed fraudsters.
January 22, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Privacy & fair treatment are not the preserve of the wealthy - and state support must not be conditional on submitting to outrageous intrusions.
These powers will harm the vulnerable much more than they stop committed fraudsters.
These powers will harm the vulnerable much more than they stop committed fraudsters.
Once again some of the most marginalised in society will bear the brunt of the surveillance state - turning benefits into a digital nightmare will put people off claiming the support they need & deserve.
Tax-dodging millionaires and Covid PPE scammers should be top of the list, not people on UC.
Tax-dodging millionaires and Covid PPE scammers should be top of the list, not people on UC.
January 22, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Once again some of the most marginalised in society will bear the brunt of the surveillance state - turning benefits into a digital nightmare will put people off claiming the support they need & deserve.
Tax-dodging millionaires and Covid PPE scammers should be top of the list, not people on UC.
Tax-dodging millionaires and Covid PPE scammers should be top of the list, not people on UC.
We all want proper crooks to be held accountable, but the DWP lumps genuine error in alongside fraud - meaning everyone is risk from these draconian powers, for a genuine mistake.
If the DWP's current 'high-tech' anti-fraud tools are anything to go by, this will go wrong with dire consequences.
If the DWP's current 'high-tech' anti-fraud tools are anything to go by, this will go wrong with dire consequences.
January 22, 2025 at 12:31 PM
We all want proper crooks to be held accountable, but the DWP lumps genuine error in alongside fraud - meaning everyone is risk from these draconian powers, for a genuine mistake.
If the DWP's current 'high-tech' anti-fraud tools are anything to go by, this will go wrong with dire consequences.
If the DWP's current 'high-tech' anti-fraud tools are anything to go by, this will go wrong with dire consequences.
Powers include revoking driving licences as punishment for debt & spying on bank accounts 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 suspicion.
The DWP already profiles UC applicants en-masse with AI tools it fights to keep secret & orders Housing Benefit reviews with a dodgy algorithm.
New powers will only make surveillance worse.
The DWP already profiles UC applicants en-masse with AI tools it fights to keep secret & orders Housing Benefit reviews with a dodgy algorithm.
New powers will only make surveillance worse.
January 22, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Powers include revoking driving licences as punishment for debt & spying on bank accounts 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 suspicion.
The DWP already profiles UC applicants en-masse with AI tools it fights to keep secret & orders Housing Benefit reviews with a dodgy algorithm.
New powers will only make surveillance worse.
The DWP already profiles UC applicants en-masse with AI tools it fights to keep secret & orders Housing Benefit reviews with a dodgy algorithm.
New powers will only make surveillance worse.
I feel your pain on this, 6 months (and counting) for my FTT judgement to be handed down - and 961 days since the request came in. Incredibly frustrating there's not much that can be done to hurry it along, Cliche of "access delayed is access denied” rings very true.
November 21, 2024 at 4:18 PM
I feel your pain on this, 6 months (and counting) for my FTT judgement to be handed down - and 961 days since the request came in. Incredibly frustrating there's not much that can be done to hurry it along, Cliche of "access delayed is access denied” rings very true.