The 1998 Data Protection act - Vital protection or Threat to life
 

This has appeared on the C4 forum. Any thoughts on this ?

On balance I would say that the act protects us, both from false information about us being held and information being transfered to third-parties against our will.

It pulls the balance of rights back away from companies and towards individuals. If companies want to sell your details to, say, junk mailers they have to get your consent (legally anyway).

Mind you it can make life difficult for organisations and the cases in the article show that it is not a black and white issue. In fact it's just the kind of ethical dilemma in IT that I can mention in my exam on the subject in January!

The Data Protection Act is a very complex document which is there to protect the individual.

However as far as the Police are concerned it is very frustrating. In my job we very often contact the Police for information on individuals in connection with Court proceedings to be met with 'no can do' responses. In many cases this has led to further incidents occurring. The Soham case I'm afraid is only the tip of the iceberg. The Act needs a very thorough make over.

I agree completely Busy Bee

I have to juggle with it everyday as I decide what confidential information on children (and their carer's where necessary) I need to share with others to safeguard children. I use the measure of the interest of the child being paramount, and I have to be able to justify my actions.

However, we constantly run up against problems where Mental Health staff safeguard their patient above the potential danger they may present to children they come in contact with.

I am not at all surprised that one of the outstanding comments from the Laming Enquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie highlighted the dangers of ambiguities in the interpretation of the law.

Personally, I have nothing to hide and I am not concerned.