Privacy watchdog to lead data-sharing review
Kablenet.com
Published: 26 Oct 2007 12:20 BST
The information commissioner is to lead a review into the use of personal information.
The information commissioner, Richard Thomas, will work with Professor Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, in looking at how personal information is shared and protected by the public and private sectors.
Possible changes to the Data Protection Act and the powers and sanctions available to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and the courts will be considered. Recommendations will also be made on data-sharing policy, with the aim of ensuring transparency, scrutiny and accountability.
The prime minister, Gordon Brown, announced the review on Thursday as part of a package of measures designed to make government more open and increase public access to information.
Thomas said: "I very much welcome the opportunity to undertake this review of how information is shared in the public and private sectors."
"Sensible information sharing has clear benefits for individuals — for example in the form of more personalised services — and creates greater efficiencies for organisations. But, as the public and private sectors collect and share more and more of our personal information, the risks of security breaches and privacy intrusion increase," said Thomas.
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"Information must be shared in a secure, lawful and responsible way in order to maintain public trust and confidence. The review will consider how best we can ensure that our society reaps the benefits of sensible information sharing whilst ensuring the right privacy and other safeguards for individuals and society," added the information commissioner.
The review is due to be published in the first half of 2008.
The prime minister's package also includes a review of the "30-year rule", the date by which government departments must transfer public records to the National Archives and the date at which records become considered "historical". It will include recommendations on reducing the time until data is released from 30 years, and could lead to an increase in access to government records.
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