This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7500826.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Voters' data 'should not be sold' | Voters' data 'should not be sold' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Councils should be banned from selling edited versions of the electoral rolls, a report on the use of personal information has said. | |
| The government-commissioned report said allowing voters' details to be sold to commercial firms sent a "poor message". | The government-commissioned report said allowing voters' details to be sold to commercial firms sent a "poor message". |
| It also said people should have a right to know who firms shared their details with and firms which deliberately broke privacy rules should face large fines. | It also said people should have a right to know who firms shared their details with and firms which deliberately broke privacy rules should face large fines. |
| The government said it agreed measures needed to be taken to increase trust. | The government said it agreed measures needed to be taken to increase trust. |
| The review, headed up by Information Commissioner Richard Thomas and Wellcome Trust director Dr Mark Walport, was commissioned a week before HM Revenue and Customs lost two discs containing personal details of 25 million people. | The review, headed up by Information Commissioner Richard Thomas and Wellcome Trust director Dr Mark Walport, was commissioned a week before HM Revenue and Customs lost two discs containing personal details of 25 million people. |
| Fining powers | Fining powers |
| The review said that across the public and private sectors data sharing was "shrouded in confusion" and the public had little insight into how their personal information was used. | The review said that across the public and private sectors data sharing was "shrouded in confusion" and the public had little insight into how their personal information was used. |
| Mr Thomas said he was concerned about the practice whereby councils sold on "edited" versions of the electoral roll - from which people can opt out - which were often used by direct marketing companies. | Mr Thomas said he was concerned about the practice whereby councils sold on "edited" versions of the electoral roll - from which people can opt out - which were often used by direct marketing companies. |
| "We feel that selling the edited register is an unsatisfactory way for local authorities to treat personal information," he said. | "We feel that selling the edited register is an unsatisfactory way for local authorities to treat personal information," he said. |
| It sends a particularly poor message to the public that personal information collected for something as vital as participation in the democratic process can be sold to anyone for any purpose Richard ThomasInformation Commissioner | It sends a particularly poor message to the public that personal information collected for something as vital as participation in the democratic process can be sold to anyone for any purpose Richard ThomasInformation Commissioner |
| "It sends a particularly poor message to the public that personal information collected for something as vital as participation in the democratic process can be sold to anyone for any purpose." | "It sends a particularly poor message to the public that personal information collected for something as vital as participation in the democratic process can be sold to anyone for any purpose." |
| The review called for wide-scale reform, including suggesting that ministers launched their own inquiry into firms which gathered and sold on people's personal details. | The review called for wide-scale reform, including suggesting that ministers launched their own inquiry into firms which gathered and sold on people's personal details. |
| It also recommended that the information commissioner be given powers to impose fines against private or public sector bodies which deliberately or recklessly broke privacy rules. | It also recommended that the information commissioner be given powers to impose fines against private or public sector bodies which deliberately or recklessly broke privacy rules. |
| Facebook fears | Facebook fears |
| The report suggested fines similar to those which can be imposed by the Financial Services Authority, which can run into millions of pounds. | The report suggested fines similar to those which can be imposed by the Financial Services Authority, which can run into millions of pounds. |
| And it said organisations should publish privacy policies explaining how and why they used people's personal information. | And it said organisations should publish privacy policies explaining how and why they used people's personal information. |
| It suggested that internet sites which collected people's details from electoral rolls, company registers, telephone directories and website were a "worrying threat to privacy". | It suggested that internet sites which collected people's details from electoral rolls, company registers, telephone directories and website were a "worrying threat to privacy". |
| We agree that measures need to be taken to increase public trust and confidence in the handling and processing of personal data by the public and private sectors Ministry of Justice | We agree that measures need to be taken to increase public trust and confidence in the handling and processing of personal data by the public and private sectors Ministry of Justice |
| The government should consider regulating such services, the review said. | The government should consider regulating such services, the review said. |
| And concerns were raised about the amount of information put on social networking websites like Facebook and Bebo, Dr Walport said: "Many individuals are posting more and more personal information on the web and of course web technology means that it can be aggregated in a very powerful way." | And concerns were raised about the amount of information put on social networking websites like Facebook and Bebo, Dr Walport said: "Many individuals are posting more and more personal information on the web and of course web technology means that it can be aggregated in a very powerful way." |
| A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "We agree that measures need to be taken to increase public trust and confidence in the handling and processing of personal data by the public and private sectors." | A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "We agree that measures need to be taken to increase public trust and confidence in the handling and processing of personal data by the public and private sectors." |
| She said that the government was working on "possible amendments" to the information commissioner's powers and funding arrangements. | She said that the government was working on "possible amendments" to the information commissioner's powers and funding arrangements. |
| "We will assess the other recommendations in the report in further detail and issue a more detailed statement once we have had time to fully consider the implications and costs of bringing about such changes," she added. | "We will assess the other recommendations in the report in further detail and issue a more detailed statement once we have had time to fully consider the implications and costs of bringing about such changes," she added. |