This year marks the tenth and final series of Channel 4’s Big Brother show. Whilst the show may have been guilty of many things, it has certainly brought the concept of George Orwell’s surveillance society to the forefront of many people’s minds. But is it actually that far from reality?

With the rise of social networking, linked-up public sector departments, and CCTV cameras on every street corner, it is easy to see how the state can build up a complete picture of our individual lives. There are benefits, of course, but shouldn’t we be wary of giving up so much information so easily?

The concept of personal privacy is one that we should take seriously, and it is enshrined in law under the Data Protection Act(DPA). The DPA gives each of us rights concerning how organizations both public and private hold and use information about us. It is there to ensure that the information is fair, accurate, kept up to date and held securely. If our personal data is incorrect it can have serious consequences, for example, being given the wrong kind of medical treatment if our medical records aren’t up to date or a mortgage application being declined because of old credit information that should have been removed.

The DPA also gives individuals the right to access information that is held about them by organizations. By submitting a ‘subject access request’ you should receive copies of your personal data within 40 days. If it is incorrect or outdated then you can ensure that it is corrected. Being concerned about the protection of our personal information isn’t about civil liberties campaigners being over-anxious, it is something that we should all be increasingly conscious of.

- Rebecca