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Who's the biggest threat to your identity? You.

Posted on 18 Apr 2007 at 11:05

PC Pro's news and features editor Barry Collins recently made a subject access request to search giant Google. It turned down the first request, claiming it was subject only to US law. Only after Collins persisted with a second request, pointing out the company had registered offices in the UK, did Google co-operate. Even then, all it provided was a list of the Google services Collins was signed up for, and a limited log of the dates and times he used its services. Considering that Collins has Google email, calendars and document storage, is that log really the sum total of the personal information the company holds on him?

The point is that the digitisation of everything, combined with the ability to instantly duplicate that data, means nobody can be sure where their data is stored or who has access to it. "The genie is out of the bottle," advises David Porter. "We have to exercise responsibility and self-control to ensure we stay afloat amidst this data explosion."

Author: Davey Winder