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Tuesday, September 12, 2006
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The bank accounts of more than 5,000 suspected terrorists are being
monitored by Britain's biggest financiers following fresh intelligence
from MI5.This figure is the security services' highest estimate yet
for the number of British-based individuals suspected of involvement in
plotting attacks. Senior banking sources have told The Observer that
200 current accounts have recently been frozen as part of the fight
against the financing of jihadist terrorism. The big four banks -
Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds TSB and Royal Bank of Scotland, which owns
NatWest - have been instructed by MI5 and the US Treasury's Office of
Foreign Assets Control to monitor 'suspicious' transactions involving
named individuals and companies. Sources at Britain's biggest bank,
HSBC, said that 'just north' of 5,000 UK accounts had been 'flagged up'
and were being watched as part of evidence-gathering against suspects.
12:36:07 PM 
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The Freedom of Information Act is a statute that compels the
government to disclose details about its activities. EFF's FOIA
requests will zero in on collection and use of information about
Americans, the increasing cooperation between the government and the
private sector, and federal agencies' development and use of new
information technologies. The FLAG Project -- for FOIA Litigation for
Accountable Government -- is spearheaded by two experienced Freedom of
Information specialists: Senior Counsel David Sobel and Staff Attorney
Marcia Hofmann.
"National security and law enforcement demand some level of
government secrecy, but too much can enable abuses of power," said
Sobel, who will direct EFF's new project. "The NSA's illegal spying
program and other recent revelations show that the government has
radically expanded its surveillance of ordinary Americans, obtaining
untold access to the details of our everyday lives."
"While the government has increased its monitoring of its citizens,
it's also stepped up efforts to block public scrutiny," said Hofmann.
"The public deserves to know what the government is doing, so that it
can keep abuses of power in check and challenge violations of privacy."
12:31:10 PM
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Bank Accounts of 5,000 UK Terror Suspects Tracked.
Juha-Matti Laurio writes to mention an article over at the Guardian, reporting on the surveillance of over 5,000 bank accounts
in the interests of terrorist tracking. Accounts at such reputable
British banks as HSBC, Barclay, and Lloyds TSB are having their
activity tracked for 'suspicious activity'. Financial details from
these banks, it turns out, was part of the trail of evidence used to
apprehend terrorism suspects in a plot to bomb airplanes last month. --- From the article: "However,
the extent of the banks' involvement in neutering the terrorist threat
has sparked a fierce backlash from some British Muslims amid claims of
mistaken identities and the persecution of innocent account-holders.
Ahmed Salama was stunned when his HSBC account was frozen nine days
ago. He received a letter informing him that HSBC wished to end their
relationship after 11 years. The decision left Salama unable to pay 12
bills and his mortgage. Despite repeatedly asking for an explanation,
HSBC has only told him it detected 'suspicious' payments in his
account." [Slashdot: Your Rights Online]
12:24:19 PM
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© Copyright 2006 Paul Hardwick.
Last update: 10/1/06; 4:25:39 AM.
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