This is just going to lead to a rise in more people sticking to cash. Not to hide wrongdoing, but so these nosy cunts can't scrutinise where you got your shopping and start judging and lecturing you. I can just see it - "Why are you wasting your money in Sainsbury's when Lidl will have the same things cheaper?" "Why did you go to Thornton's for luxury chocolate when you're supposed to be skint?" These bastards abuse. Hopefully it won't come to pass, because if they could bypass Data Protection that easily, they would have done by now. But even now, they can randomly flag your account for a "compliance interview" and ask you to bring your bank statements. So yeah, if you're on benefits, I'd advise to use cash where you can so as not to give these wankers more power than necessary.