Government databases have data security problems
23/03/2009
According to a new report from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, up to 25% of the government’s databases are illegal because they breach European data protection laws.
The report gave 11 of the 46 largest database schemes a ‘red light’ claiming they need to be immediately scrapped or redesigned. These 11 included the Contactpoint database which holds the details of every child in England and the National DNA database.
The report, ‘Database State’ found that half the government’s databases have serious security and privacy problems and could be found to be illegal, receiving the ‘amber light.’ Only six were given the ‘green light’ indicating that they are sound in terms of privacy and data security − these were judged to be necessary, established, effective and proportionate.
The report recommends that the ‘amber’ databases need to be amended to give people the chance to opt out, or they need to be split into more than one database or shrunk to include less information.
Whitehall has admitted that only 30% of government IT projects are a success, and £105 billion has been earmarked to such projects over the coming five years.
The report gave 11 of the 46 largest database schemes a ‘red light’ claiming they need to be immediately scrapped or redesigned. These 11 included the Contactpoint database which holds the details of every child in England and the National DNA database.
The report, ‘Database State’ found that half the government’s databases have serious security and privacy problems and could be found to be illegal, receiving the ‘amber light.’ Only six were given the ‘green light’ indicating that they are sound in terms of privacy and data security − these were judged to be necessary, established, effective and proportionate.
The report recommends that the ‘amber’ databases need to be amended to give people the chance to opt out, or they need to be split into more than one database or shrunk to include less information.
Whitehall has admitted that only 30% of government IT projects are a success, and £105 billion has been earmarked to such projects over the coming five years.
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