The use of personal data by Government offers enormous benefits with the potential to create more efficient and accessible public services, the report advised Government.
- extensive public engagement with the public and civil society groups;
- regulatory and governance frameworks to minimise the risks;
- research into privacy enhancing technologies; and
- the creation of federated databases rather than a single database.
The report set out that Government must strike the right balance between promoting greater access to personal data and protecting the individual. It recommended adopting the concept of citizens owning their own data and exercising control over how and when it is used.
Dr Mark Walport, who co-authored the report, said: "Government is already providing a lead through the recent publication of the new IT strategy, setting out ways to link together personal information to be used more effectively.
"But to make the most of the opportunities that intelligent use of personal data offers, including more efficient and better targeted public services, Government must address the risks.
"We are at a crossroads in the development and use of personal data. We should not be led down the route where technology dictates its use. Government should take the opportunity to put in place the right safeguards to protect privacy and build public trust."
The CST is the Prime Minister's top level advisory body on strategic science and technology policy issues. It's current report is designed to set out the beneficial uses of Government held personal data, both now and in the future; the changes needed to achieve these; an analysis of the risks with recommendations on safeguards to reduce the risks.
The Government holds an estimated 300 million sets of contact details, on average five sets for every UK citizen. The use of data, between government departments, is fragmented and much of it is out of date.
In order improve its use and deliver more joined up services Government should provide the focus and drive for the links between, and access to, personal data. The report recommended that this be done on an incremental basis making sure that, as data sharing increases, it is accompanied by parallel changes in policies and processes.
The report also highlighted that Government should address the risk of allowing technology to drive forward developments in an uncontrolled way. It is key, the report recommends, that through public engagement the Government put in place appropriate controls to minimise these risks.
The security and integrity of data might be compromised by having a single database and so the CST recommended that Government should set up individual databases with their own identities to create a linked, or federated, series of databases.
The Council for Science and Technology (CST) is the UK government's top-level advisory body on science and technology policy issues, appointed by the Prime Minister. It is co-chaired by Sir David King, the government's Chief Scientific Adviser, and Sir Keith Peters. CST's report 'Better use of personal data in an information-rich society - opportunities and risks ' is available from www.cst.gov.uk.
The Personal Datasets sub-group of the CST comprises Dr Mark Walport (Wellcome Trust and sub-group convenor), Professor Janet Finch (University of Keele) and Professor Wendy Hall (University of Southampton).
Quelle: Publictechnology, 22.11.2005
