DWP urged to introduce new 'mass surveillance' in strict benefits clampdown by Tony Blair

Following last month's election, the ex-Prime Minister said the UK must take advantage of "the full opportunity of governing in the age of artificial intelligence".

During his think tank's annual conference, Blair explained: "There is only one game changer in our view, [and] that is harnessing … the 21st century technological revolution.

"In this new world, companies and nations will either rise or fall."

This sentiment was mirrored by Chancellor Rachel Reeves who claimed AI would be vital in assisting the Government in filling a £22billion "black hole" in the public purse.

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Under the Tony Blair Institute's proposals, one million civil service roles would be axed to save £40billion in taxpayer money.

According to the think tank, more than 40 per cent of the tasks performed by public sector workers could be partly automated by AI-based software.

One of the tasks cited by the institute is the examination and scrutiny of benefit claims as part of a DWP clampdown.

Speaking to the Big Issue, Big Brother Watch's legal and policy officer Susannah Copson broke down the concerns many have with this proposal.

She explained: "There is a very real danger that AI systems, those akin to the previous Government’s proposed welfare bank spying powers, could facilitate mass surveillance, leading to intrusive scrutiny of people’s lives.

"The dangers of using AI at scale are even more alarming in high-risk environments like the welfare system, where mistakes can determine whether claimants can afford to feed themselves, heat their houses, or pay for essential medication.

"Blindly embracing AI is dangerous, particularly when we consider the track record of automated systems in similar contexts."

Mikey Erhardt, campaigner at Disability Rights UK, cited the fact that a recent investigation found 200,000 Britons were wrongly investigated for housing benefit fraud and error.

He claims this is evidence the current DWP system is flawed and an AI overhaul would exacerbate existing issues.

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Erhardt added: "They would have had a serious impact on the lives of disabled people.

"Politicians should spend less time demonising our community and instead commit to creating a system underpinned by a new ethos of dignity, respect, trust, and support.

"This system should focus on supporting disabled people to live the lives we want – with no sanctions, conditionality, or caps. It’s the least we deserve."

A DWP spokesperson said: "This Government will not tolerate fraud or waste anywhere in public services, including in the social security system. We are determined to reduce fraud and error and are currently exploring all options on how best to achieve our goal."