FiL wants all our data

[HighlandCowSaysBooNotMoo]

My father in law works in a government role.
Today he put a message in the family WhatsApp group asking if we could send him our addresses, d.o.bs, mothers maiden names, our place of birth, our address history, previous maiden names etc.
Apparently he needs this info from his 4 adult children, their spouses (me included) , his own siblings and his siblings spouses, grandchildren, his in laws etc. Basically he is covering every member of the family and spouses etc over the age of 18.
He has put something light hearted about it being needed for an enhanced security check that he's been told he needs for his job.
He is not changing jobs or position in the company. He has been in this job for since my husband was a wee kid!!
A couple of people have responded straight away with their data.
DH says IABU not to share mine with his dad
What do I do?

While this is clearly legit, your FIL sounds like a very self-important man who doesn’t think that his family deserve a proper explanation of why he is asking for this info -just give it to me because I am a Big Man with a Big Job. That’s rude and patronising, especially in these days of heightened awareness of cyber crime and identity theft

How on earth have you come to that bizarre conclusion? The man has simply asked for information, which is linked to his job.

you do know practically all of this info is in the public domain anyway

My late DP had to provide info about his entire family and their spouses, and my sibling and parents, for a job as a payroll manager with a police force.

A few years (and jobs) later, he applied for a job with a different force and had to supply it all again. He didn't ask for it via What's App though, most of it he knew and his DM knew the bits he didn't. I think he had to ask one of his BILs for his place of birth.

I think it's pretty standard tbh.

He’s made “a lighthearted comment” on a WhatsApp group. He hasn’t explained the process and, as you can see from this post, it is of concern to some.

Apart from time/money/effort involved, part of the reason they ask the individual to provide the information is a key risk would be someone who doesn’t supply a particular data point. That would be something that they would want to explore.

Can MI5 find out your DiLs maiden name if they were so inclined, yes. But they’re more interested in whether someone declines to and what that might mean.

@KingsleyBorder Actually, if you are going through this process you really aren't allowed to explain much about it at all.

Yes that’ll be it! He’s trying to do family tree.

what?? is he applying to work for MI5?????

The level of paranoia on here is insane. They want full names including maiden names, dates of birth, and addresses including previous ones. What's to get excited about? This is all information that the govt already has on us in various departments. The Home Office is simply asking him to provide it in one document, for checking.

As I said in a previous post, this is at a very basic level of security vetting that I needed simply to volunteer and have keys in a secure setting, as would even the catering staff in that setting.

Lots of people in this thread need to calm down, as be glad that not just anyone can work in secure or secret roles.

He asked for it in a WhatsApp group to reach everyone. OP can provide it in any way she likes.

He can give more context than a throwaway remark on a WhatsApp group- look at the information that has been provided here to put OP’s mind at rest.

A link to this document for example
Briefing on Developed Vetting

See my post after yours. Tens of thousands of people need this level of clearance, maybe just to be a cleaner in a Mod building!

You have to provide this information on lots of forms when applying for things.

Someone you trust us asked for this information on a private family WhatsApp chat and explained why ... what is the problem?

It's for vetting and they would expect the employee to supply this data.

Would you feel at all guilty that someone might lose their job because of it?

My DH employer landed a contract where those working on the contract required enhanced security checks. We had to go through all of this. DH was responsible for gathering the info not his employers. If he didn't do it he couldn't work on the contract. Not sinister just a pain in the a**e.

Or you can give them as much information as possible about them and they can check based on what you have provided - likelihood is that if you know rough birthday/place of birth/area where they live they will be able to join the dots for the check. I have done this with step family who I know very little about - one has a presence through business on SM so that one was easy... The rest I just detailed as much as possible.

I haven't RTFT but this is normal for Government clearance. I work in a job where clearance is required and have to provide this info every 5 years. My mother complains about it every time, for no reason other than she doesn't want the Government to know all of her details. Until I point out every time that they already have these details anyway!

If you want more information about what he needs it for just ask him. Honestly most mumsnet non-problems are solved by communicating. He sounds like a typical man only capable of telling half the story 🥲

I was the partner in this situation and I refused to give over the info. Nothing happened. Individual got the job anyway.

No, you need that just to get an interview in the security services. Get offered the job and they want to know your great uncles inside leg measurement.

What more does he need to say though?

.. about it being needed for an enhanced security check that he's been told he needs for his job.

It a simple need, full names including past ones, DOB, addresses including past ones. Nothing intrusive, nothing that's already in the govt domain, and for a simple reason. It's only in some Mumsnetters' heads that it's some massive thing.

i had several horribly advanced security checks at one point. They basically asked for names, and did all the rest. I spent several frantic days trying to call/write to people to warn them the men in the dark suits might visit.

In your shoes, OP, i would be asking FIL exactly what the data is going to be used for. Where it is being stored, who will have access.

And then I'd probably say "no".

I'd respond with something like this or "Oh, I think we'll wait it out until your employer contacts us directly requesting this information. After all, data theft is on the rise you know and we all should be really aware of what sorts of information about ourselves that we give out" and see how that sits.

This is pretty normal for several central government jobs. He might be being re-vetted, or part of his role might have changed or he needs to go to buildings with enhanced security so he needs further security clearance or he might be seeking to change role altogether. They don’t ask you for the info - he has to provide the info and then then team doing security/vetting look into everyone. Just ask him why he needs it, if you feel uncomfortable. But this is not weird at all.

It's bizarre that some people on here resent the government making checks on people who will have access to secure settings and information, and refuse to cooperate.
I'm fairly certain that if there was a terrorist attack in one of those places, the same people would be asking how the person got access without checks.