Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Children's database ContactPoint launched in England
I've been dreading this news:
Children's database ContactPoint launched despite security fears
ContactPoint will include the names, ages and addresses of 11 million under-18s as well as information about their parents, GPs and schools.
Yes, a database of details on all* children in England is officially starting.
Except it isn't all* children: Celebrities and politicians will be able to keep their details off a controversial new database listing the personal details of every child in England, it has been reported.
(links via telegraph.co.uk)
So, celebrities and politicians are concerned about the security of their children's details and can opt out but the rest of us parents have no say in permitting our children's details to be entered in the database! As usual there are different rules for people in power and another set of rules for ordinary citizens. Charming! And doesn't their concern about security prove that the database isn't secure?
It makes me so angry that I can hardly type this post. What is happening to this country and to our rights?
What are your thoughts about ContactPoint? If you are a parent in England, are you worried?
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I'm writing from the USA and hadn't heard about this. I would be hopping mad if I could not opt out of that system. It would be especially galling that the politicians do not have to participate. No one making the laws should be exempt from them.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed it infuriates me. It's bad enough that it's yet another database for this government to keep tabs on people (this time our children) - and with the danger of the data falling in the wrong hands! - but knowing it doesn't actually apply to everyone's children makes me see red.
ReplyDeleteThis won't affect me but needless to say that I agree with all you say about it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the opt-out option I think that is disgraceful!
With the large number of people who will be able to access the information there is no way that this information will remain confidential for very long.
As you quite rightly say Flighty, with the large number of people who will be able to access the information there is no way that this information will remain confidential for very long (which of course is exactly why politicians and celebrities will be able to keep the details of their children off the database). It is despicable that the government gets away with this.
ReplyDelete