× Members

DWP access to Google, gmail etc re useage

More
6 years 18 hours ago #209438 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic DWP access to Google, gmail etc re useage

abby wrote: I know DWP do look at - have access to somethings like facebook and Instagram in order to check claims, but I would have thought general browning history would be much use.


They only have access to Facebook and Instagram if your privacy settings are not set properly.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Mr B, ivyfox

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 11 months ago #209556 by Ellen
Replied by Ellen on topic DWP access to Google, gmail etc re useage
Or of the DWP create fake ‘friends’ Accounts that you then allow to follow you.....and there are various open source public was of seeing private ig stories or private Facebook stuff . I don’t think it would be the starting point for checking someone but might be used for information - like HMRC uses google earth.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 11 months ago #209591 by Mr B

abby wrote: Or of the DWP create fake ‘friends’ Accounts that you then allow to follow you.....and there are various open source public was of seeing private ig stories or private Facebook stuff . I don’t think it would be the starting point for checking someone but might be used for information - like HMRC uses google earth.


Abby

As Gordon has already said you can prevent people seeing social media content you don't want them to see by setting your privacy settings accordingly. Regarding your suggestion that the DWP might create 'fake' Facebook friend accounts, whilst I have no idea whether they actually do this the Facebook user supposedly 'targeted' by the DWP would not have to accept the 'fake' friend request! Facebook friends are permitted to 'follow' you by default, however for all other Facebook users you can alter your settings to prevent them ALL from following you if you wish, that is only allow your friends to follow you! Also regarding your comment about 'open source' ways of seeing 'private Facebook' stuff I would have thought that was unlawful unless, as Gordon has also said, the person/organisation doing this has obtained legal permission to do so. Whilst it's of course very important that people take appropriate steps to protect their privacy and security online it's also very important in my opinion to avoid too much of this '007' type speculation. Let's all keep our cyber-feet on the ground if we can!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 11 months ago #209613 by Chrissiefeeny
Replied by Chrissiefeeny on topic DWP access to Google, gmail etc re useage
I don't know about DWP but HMRC has access to everything you do and say on any media.........
I was reading that on the BBC news just yesterday....
Companies also have access to your media profile,if you say apply for a loan, mortgage etc.It's actually pretty frightening just how much access is given to Government agencies and companies nowadays.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 11 months ago #209688 by Ellen
Replied by Ellen on topic DWP access to Google, gmail etc re useage
Fair points- it can all get a bit cyber mad- and yes when you see stories in the press of ‘benefit cheats’ being caught out via their social media or posting photos etc , they are probably silly enough to have left their accounts as public. Yes viewing things that are supposed to be private is ‘iffy’ in terms of if it is wrong or right to do- but if the DWP are trying to catch someone for fraud then I would assume they could have help from the police etc .
Life was a whole lot simpler before the internet existed!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
5 years 11 months ago #209728 by Mr B

Katy P wrote: I don't know about DWP but HMRC has access to everything you do and say on any media.........
I was reading that on the BBC news just yesterday....
Companies also have access to your media profile,if you say apply for a loan, mortgage etc.It's actually pretty frightening just how much access is given to Government agencies and companies nowadays.


Hi Katy

I haven't found that BBC news report you mentioned just yet but I'll keep looking! I'm only really commenting here on this issue as it may affect and/or concern claimants of sickness/disability benefits. Regarding your comment though I'd be very surprised, and disappointed, if Government departments "have access to everything you do and say on any media........." I think that should perhaps be qualified to say they have potential access to such information rather than being able to access anything they want for any reason! they want Of course information publicly available on social media sites is by definition accessible by anybody. including Government departments. If however someone has restricted access to some of their content on say Facebook then I would think it highly unlikely that a Government department would be able to look at that 'private' information simply because they wanted to! I suggest that the Government department would have to have a well-founded suspicion that a person may be acting unlawfully before they would be permitted by the social media provider to have access to this 'private' information. There would I think have to be some sort of legal process to follow to get this access and that they can't just get it for anyone they choose and for whatever reason. Also of course although Internet Service Providers are required by law to hold copies of which sites, for example, a person has visited they do not have to hold copies of which web-pages the person visits on those sites. The same applies to emails and phone calls, a record of who for example a phone call is made to and when is held by providers but they are not allowed to hold the actual content of the phone call. Again permission would have to be obtained by a Government department to access 'traffic', they can't just get it just because they want it! In conclusion though, if someone remains concerned that their information on social media sites might somehow become available even if 'locked down' by privacy setting etc then they could if they wished simply remove that content and not post similar content on such sites again!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: GordonGaryBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserjimmckChris
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.