Quarter of Government databases "illegal"

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 23 Mar 2009 at 12:45

A quarter of all Government databases are "are almost certainly illegal under human rights or
data protection law," according to political campaigners.

The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust claims 11 of the public sector's 46 databases should be "scrapped or substantially redesigned," because of "significant problems with privacy or effectiveness". The Trust claims the affected databases are liable to a legal challenge.

Databases on the Trust's "Red" list include the National DNA Database, the NHS Detailed Care Record and the National Identity Register.

Rowntree claims that, for example, the profiles of four million people are held in the DNA Database, but that half a million of those are innocent, including almost 40,000 children.

The Trust also questions the legality of the controversial Communications Database, which will see details such as itemised phone bills, email headers and mobile phone location history collected.

The report also highlights the huge amounts of money the Government is pumping into the maintenance of such databases.

"The UK public sector spends over £16 billion a year on IT," the report states. "Over £100 billion in spending is planned for the next five years, and even the Government cannot provide an accurate figure for cost of its Transformational Government programme."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman claimed the report contains "no substantive evidence" on which to base it claims, according to the BBC.