Data Protection Proposals

[10ClarionSt]

It's good that the government are proposing to update data protection in this country but I think there's an element of hypocrisy here. Whilst expressing concerns about data protection, the government thinks nothing about selling personal information to private companies, especially parking companies. I understand the need for govt to hold this information and to use it for the purposes of running various govt departments, but the information should not be made available to someone just because they want to start a business, that couldn't make any money, without access to personal information. If a private company wants to operate parking schemes, they should do it via manned barriers, not by asking the government to disclose personal information from the DVLA data base. Hypocritical, I believe.

[Gromit]

Agreed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2855464/DVLA-pockets-25m-five-years-selling-personal-details-millions-motorists-parking-enforcement-firms.html

[youngmafbog]

Can't disagree, the selling of personal data by the Government is an absolute disgrace.

[jno]

their new data protection plans are just because the EU won't share data with Britain post-Brexit if proper protection isn't in force. Whether the EU is aware all their data can be sold on to crooks, I don't know.

[youngmafbog]

Not just the EU and it is a good thing anyway, but thats not really the point of the OP. Problem is, how do you stop Government from doing it, seems all political parties are keen to follow the route of peddling our data.

[jno]

well, that's what I was wondering, ymb - how does the government's action square with the E-compliant rules in force right now? Will a new regime alter this at all?

[youngmafbog]

From what I can glean the answer is unfortunately no.

[ToraToraTora]

yes I agree 100%, the government would not be allowed to sell private data. It's one of the reasons I'm against ID cards and forced DNA from new borns etc. We should never give governments this kind of power.

[youngmafbog]

Hmmm, having the data is one thing, misusing it is another.

[Old_Geezer]

It's not the government's data, it's ours: they are merely the custodians with no permission to sell our private data. But if they allow face recognition tech to become ubiquitous then it may all be over for privacy, especially if linking to multiple personal databases is allowed.

[jno]

ymb, I think we need to proceed on the basis that all data will be misused, whether because poor security leaves it open to hacking, or just because some clot leaves a USB stick on the bus.

[hc4361]

10CS, you will find this informative and interesting:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/dvla_selling_personal_informatio

[AlfStewart]

Well it's a bit late for this now, personally i want to see more privacy, higher jail sentences and end to end encryption mandatory on all phone networks!

[Electrochem]

Can you imagine the queues to get into car parks if your proposal regarding manned barriers were used. Staff needed as well, so up goes the cost.