Summit: Digital freedom campaigner discusses data control

Killock said more technical expertise is needed in government in order to protect public data

Open Rights Group (ORG) chief executive Jim Killock gave his views on data privacy and illegal downloading in a two-part video interview at V3.co.uk's Information Overload Summit on Wednesday.

Killock gave tips to businesses and individuals on how they can secure their data online and warned that Britain is in real danger of becoming becoming a surveillance state.

Killock spoke out against the government’s Intercept Modernisation Programme and the numerous government databases storing citizen data.

However Killock said he did not think the Tory’s proposals to end government super databases and involve the private sector more would give citizens more data privacy.

Killock also called on the government to become more IT-savvy so that it is better able to safeguard citizens' private data.

On the subject of illegal downloading, Killock said the only way rights holders could protect their revenue from pirates is by developing new online supply models such as Spotify and Sky Songs. However, he added that before these delivery methods can really take off, licensing models need to change.

We will be posting the full video interview with Killock later today.

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