Dated data protection won't touch new privacy crisis

29 October 2008

Reacting to Information Commissioner Richard Thomas�s remarks in a speech today[1], NO2ID[2] suggested the ideas of Data Protection are no longer adequate. Mr Thomas called for CEOs to take responsibility for preventing data-losses, but the campaign group claims this is beside the point in the face of the determined drive by government agencies to sweep away privacy.[3]

Phil Booth, NO2ID National Coordinator said:

'The ICO says the buck for data breaches should stop with CEOs. So is Gordon Brown listening? The privacy crisis is the creation of this government and he should be held responsible.

'The snooping-obsessed government is losing more personal information than ever, because it has seized more than ever. You can't trust a stalker state.'

Guy Herbert, General Secretary of NO2ID said:

'Massive loss and misuse of personal information is just a side effect. The real danger to privacy is the drive for ever more legal collection and sharing without a choice. Data protection is now hollow. It always was back to front. You should control what is done with your information, not the government and not a regulator.'

-ENDS-

Notes for editors:

1) 'Privacy watchdog calls on CEOs to take responsibility for data protection safeguards' 29 October 2008

2) NO2ID is the UK-wide non-partisan campaign against ID cards and the database state. See http://www.no2id.net/dbstate.php for a list of 'database state' initiatives that NO2ID is actively opposing.

3) The Ministry of Justice has been charged with removing the legal protections against data-sharing where they are inconvenient to government agencies. See 'Information sharing vision statement' 13 September 2006

http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/informationsharingvision.htm

There are numerous examples of exceptions to normal expectations of privacy and confidentiality created in recent legislation.

For further information, or for immediate or future interview, please contact:

Phil Booth (National Co-ordinator, national.coordinator@no2id.net) on 07974 230 839

Guy Herbert (General Secretary, general.secretary@no2id.net) on 07956 544 308

Michael Parker (Press Officer, press.officer@no2id.net) on 07773 376 166

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