Social Welfare Targeting People Through Facebook - Sean O Neill (RSF)

NO PROBING OF BANKERS AS WELARE
OFFICIALS CHECK SOCIAL NETWORK SITES

Social welfare investigators in Limerick are now probing internet
personal networking sites such as Facebook in a new drive to cut
payments, a local community activist said today.

Sean O’Neill from Quinn’s Cottages in Prospect said that young
people are being questioned about their living arrangements
and holiday plans by officials from the Department of Social
Protection.

Single mothers seem to be the targets of this latest probe
by the investigators he said. One young mother was asked
why there were two toothbrushes in her bathroom.

In addition to highly personal visits where living space is
examined the officials are also using social networking
sites to gain information on some claimants.

In recent days I have had a number of people come to
me and say that they were asked about information on
social networking sites. One person was asked about
an upcoming holiday.

All this type of behaviour smacks of Big Brother and
it contrasts starkly with the way the criminal bankers
are being treated.

The poorest and most deprived segment of society is
probed in such a fashion by social welfare officials,
yet the bankers can waltz off with millions in tax
payers money.

This latest example of targeting the less well off is
misplaced and instead the officials should direct their
snooping to the bankers and developers who have
brought this country to the brink of financial ruin.