A quarter of all databases created and used by the British government are illegal, and should be scrapped or redesigned, according to a report from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, which "funds political campaigns in the UK to promote democratic reform, civil liberties and social justice", examined 46 public sector systems and found that 11 were "almost certainly" illegal under human rights or data protection laws.
These 11 systems include the national DNA database and ContactPoint, an index of biographical and contact information for all children designed to aid child protection. Criminal justice systems were also found to retain the fingerprints and details of those arrested, even when they had been acquitted or released without charge.
An £89 million data-sharing system being developed for the Department for Work and Pensions has already been abused by staff at 30 councils according to the trust's report, with councils making information available to private firms.
Professor Ross Anderson of Cambridge University, who authored the report, said, "Britain's database state has become a financial, ethical and administrative disaster which is penalising some of the most vulnerable members of our society."
The British government currently spends £16 billion a year on databases that record information about it's citizens, and plans to spend a further £105 billion over the next few years, according to the BBC.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman however defended the databases, stating that the report contains "no substantive evidence", and that the government has not lost sight of its obligations under the data protection and human rights acts.
A spokesman for the Home Office said that they needed to find the balance between an individuals' rights to privacy and their ability to fight crime. He also said that DNA testing and CCTV provide "clear benefits."
I hate this country, what have we become? Hopefuly it will be scrapped
Let's just hope they scrap them before someone loses them.
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The UK Government don't give a damn about what they do anymore, Seems they are purposely creating a pile of mess for the next government to try and clean up, Because the next government certainly won't be labour the way they are going with the databases and stuff!
The UK Government don't give a damn about what they do anymore, Seems they are purposely creating a pile of mess for the next government to try and clean up, Because the next government certainly won't be labour the way they are going with the databases and stuff!
True true true.
This government are control freaks, lead by Jaqui Spliff (got her name correct this timeas she moaned when I spelt it Jackie).
If I could clear the bills in one swoop pay of notice to our landlord, I would be gone.
I said to my fiancee lets move to Trinidad, (thats where her father is from) she said NO.
I said Canada, she said I am not sure, so I will try and get together a few thousand, so we can apply and go.
Britain is a ces pit, it's washed up and it's finished.
Why we are holding the 2012 Olympics is beyond me as we are already in so much debt.
Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin.
That was Jefferson.
Benjamin Franklin.
That was Jefferson.
Lol, it was me.
Fixed
A term in office in the UK is 5 years.
After reading the article it reminds me of Brazil... they have so much data they don't know what data they have.
Maybe if they had some sort of database to keep track of that...
Lots of cases have been found where information on an innocent person is still kept.
Then the government allow your vehicle licence plate information to be sold by the DVLA to parking companies and anyone I guess that wants it.
It's in the small print when you apply for a driving licence, which of course loads of people miss.
I always thought data protection laws were there to protect people not open yet more can of worms, that can create anarchy.
They didn't even catch Madoff, but they sure did collect a lot of info about *something*.
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