ContactPoint suspended because of security flaws

[Ali Admin]

Further to this post the other day about a delay in its implementation, it seems that Contact Point has now been suspended due to security flaws.

According to this article from Children & Young People,

Flaws in the system emerged when staff uploading children's details onto the database found that records, which were supposed to be shielded, were not.

What a surprise (not).

What's more,

...the Information Commissioners' Office is to investigate the Joseph Rowntree Trust's Database State report, which claims that ContactPoint is illegal under human rights and data protection law.

Could the wheels finally be falling off the Contact Point wagon?

[sheilan]

I suppose the only real question is why any investigation of ContactPoint & other proposed databases has taken so long...............

[OrganisedPauper]

You have to wonder don't you. I can only assume it's because this report has only just come out and perhaps there haven't been that many others that government would listen to. Perhaps government were hoping it would all be over bar the shouting now and they could it anyway?

[sheilan]

My mind is wandering along the lines of for a government who like to control, monitor and assess everything, maybe they need to come up with something like an 'ethics committee' to consider all proposed data/database related issues with reference to human rights & data protection law etc..........before they can even be developed (could even have an independent 3rd party to take on the role........)

(maybe it's just domestic chores getting to me!)

[Diane]

Why has it taken so long?

There have been many detractors... all vociferous... One can only conclude that the powers behind the ministry of silly talks are avid for their cut of the multi-million pound pie...

Diane

[Elaine Kirk]

Going slightly further into the field of data collection I have been toying with the idea of raising public awareness of third sector data .
One idea was a group is formed fighting to demand that
Charities recieving x% of income /over xmilion/? of government(taxpayer) funding should be subject to the freedom of information act.
It could be pointed out that london safeguarding (and possible the other sguarding boards) are charities so whilst your family may be discussed or 'facts' given by them influence gov policy the man in street has no way of making them reveal details/sources.
We have the nspcc starting this review but other more general examples could be found and yet we cannot demand their sources .
I have gathered only a few in a google doc and know there are many more . I think we could use this to wake up the public to the fact that unless they act now they will loose their rights to family life.
What do you think?could this be the route to alerting the public before the day they realise that sitting back whilst home ed rights were eroded meant that suddenly they find that by default uncle tom cobbly now has right of access to their home?

[Diane]

Yes, Elaine. I think that's a good idea. Otherwise, they can all act like the NSPCC and we know what demons they can be.

They get the public's money. They should be accountable.

Diane