Extra scary bits added onto vaccine passport/app thingy?

[Bepacific]

I was watching Talkradio earlier and the discussion was about extra info being added to the vaccine app, that appeared to have zero relevance to anything covid related.
Things such as full health history, work history, any criminal convictions etc.
Aibu to think this sounds utterly bizarre or have I got it wrong?

@AnotherOneFightsTheRust

It says very clearly that information isn’t used in the certificate. The cross indicates the information being used. It uses contact info and medical
Info - no work data or conviction data.

I think it’s a great idea to have information like this on actual passports.

I know some countries like USA don’t allow you to travel for a while if you’ve been convicted of certain crimes which I think we should do too. I think travel should be a privilege and all countries should vet who comes and goes. The same with diseases too, with increased travel we have increased spread of all diseases which needs to be monitored in some way.

@AnotherOneFightsTheRust
In your screenshot, the left-hand column is just a list of all types of special category data (as defined in data protection laws).

The right-hand column has an 'x' next to the ones that would be used in an app/certificate. Only 'vaccination events' has an 'x' next to it, because that's the only one that would be used in a certificate.

Both versions say that vaccination events are the only special category data that would be included. They have just changed the webpage to make it clearer to people like you who ignore the right-hand column.

If you recall the JCVI decided not to use key worker employment status as a cohort priority. The reason was simple, it’s completely impossible for the NHS to identify key workers and invite them in on any system.

It’s been difficult enough doing health and care staff not employed by NHS and local government organisations. Or to identify people by health condition.

The NHS doesn’t know what you do for a living.

But why is it there anyway?

To show you that they're not using that data.

I work in research (not healthcare/NHS). When submitting proposals to do with data collection, this is the standard way we present it. All the categories of data are listed, with ticks next to the ones we will be using.

At work, I assume that it's primarily a way to remind us, as researchers, what types of data count as 'personal' and which ones count as 'special category'.

On the NHS website, I would personally find it reassuring to see 'they're aware of what counts as special category, and won't be collecting these ones they don't need'.

FWIW, I don't agree with vaccine passports for domestic use. I still think you're reading into something that isn't there.

We have both ID and health cards in my home country. They contain all the information you’ve mentioned, and have done for decades. It’s fine, millions of people go about their life without even noticing.

ID Card can be scanned by the police or other public officials - it’s a unique number that you use for work, insurances, cars, mortgages, criminal records if any. Your whole life is on there.

Same for the health card, this time with your medical history. No one gives these things a second thought.

I'm struggling to see how people are misunderstanding this. A list of possible categories of data, with crosses clearly marked next to the data which is being being collected and stored. I imagine they've removed it because people were missing the crosses.

So it absolutely wasn't collecting or storing the data some posters are suggesting

@InTheHeatOfTheSun

It’s bizarre isn’t it?

@DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo Yes I was WATCHING it on YouTube 👍They play it on there also. I’m in another country and it’s often how I catch up with things.

Surely the only people up in arms about their criminal convictions are those who have criminal convictions.

@AnotherOneFightsTheRust That was their main points of discussion

@PickAChew

Surely the only people up in arms about their criminal convictions are those who have criminal convictions.

Hmmm, the ‘if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear’ argument. Do you think that data collection and storage would only be directed at the ‘bad’ people. What would be the point of that, the government already know lots about those people. What about privacy? Don’t you value that? It’s a big yellow taxi, you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.

@DumplingsAndStew

Charming.

I’m not thick, I’m questioning something I saw being discussed today.

What’s make believe? This is a discussion, is there any need for nastiness & rudeness

@EileenGC

We have both ID and health cards in my home country. They contain all the information you’ve mentioned, and have done for decades. It’s fine, millions of people go about their life without even noticing.

ID Card can be scanned by the police or other public officials - it’s a unique number that you use for work, insurances, cars, mortgages, criminal records if any. Your whole life is on there.

Same for the health card, this time with your medical history. No one gives these things a second thought.

What you describe is exactly what many people don't want.

I agree that the unchecked categories din't need to be listed at all. It's an indication of what would be required later.

I'd be more reassured by that if vehicle registration plate and alleged crimes were part of the NHS dataset to begin with - pretty sure I've never given that info to the NHS nor asked for it. Plus, by that logic there will surely be many more 'special categories' that also won't be included in the vaccine certificate - why didn't they list them, too?

I can't tell whether you're deliberately 'misunderstanding' or if you honestly don't understand what that table showed. The table showed that your vehicle registration plate and alleged crimes are typed of personal data which will not be used. It doesn't imply at all that the NHS have access to that data.

'Special category data' is a legally-defined term, covering certain types of data. The types of data listed on that archive link, to be precise. So no, there aren't 'many more special categories'.

@toocold54
"I think it’s a great idea to have information like this on actual passports."

Not for people who are HIV positive and can be directly discriminated against, or even murdered. We know that those on treatment can't spread HIV via sexual intercourse. It would be wrong to assume that they would be spreading it any other way either.
What about those who've had abortions, or gender reassignment? Both can get you murdered or imprisoned in some places. There's still dangerous stigma attached to some conditions. I could go on.

"Surely the only people up in arms about their criminal convictions are those who have criminal convictions"
You mean like the post office staff, for whom it's taken years to clear their names? Or the woman who was imprisoned for making false allegations against her abusive ex? (He killed her after she was released). Or the women who were charged for defending themselves but because they used weapons, they were imprisoned? There's been lots of vulnerable people who've been roped into commiting crimes.