330,000 users to have access to database on England’s children
Lucy Ward writes in The Guardian:
A giant electronic database containing sensitive information on all 11 million children in England will be open to at least 330,000 users when it launches next year, according to government guidance.
A final consultation on the plan reveals that the index, intended to help children’s services work together more effectively following the death of Victoria Climbié, will be accessible through any computer linked to the internet, whether at work or at home, providing users have the correct two-part security authentication.
Guidance on the £224m project warns those authorised to use the system not to access it in internet cafes or on computers in public reception areas, and instructs them never to leave the database logged on in case of unauthorised use.
Though it stresses the sophistication of the electronic security surrounding the databank, it acknowledges: “No system can be 100% guaranteed against misuse.” The government was warned by family campaigners that parents would be concerned about the number of people able to search the database, and about the potential security risk.
June 19th, 2007 at 08:40
I just cannot understand why 330,000 people need to be able to know the intimate details of my child, and the (often mistaken) views of the “professionals” about the child’s “best interests”.
But then I’m not a megalomaniac.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:55
As Abraham Lincoln said”what,s my business is my business,what,s your business is your business”.Privacy is something that Blair and the rest of this neo-nazi labour party seem to have a problem dealing with.As Jeff said in the above comment,why do so many people need to have access to your,or your childrens private information?
June 19th, 2007 at 14:15
[...] kable.” Yes, that’s the worrying thing, Mr. Byrne. (Not so much the card, but the database which is a compuls [...]
July 5th, 2007 at 22:43
We all know how the “Experts” who will use this system operate. I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them and to think that they have any information about my kids worries me. Mistakes regarding children’s welfare happen all too often and have devastating effects on all concerned. I find this very worrying as these people can not be trusted.