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?

100% normal. My husband has to collect this info periodically and he has an absolutely massive family as do I spread over three continents so it’s a total pain.

What would happen if someone refused to give him their personal information.
They have that right.
So what would happen re his job.

Hes got a million questions to answer and asking family to make things a bit easier by collating the information for him.

The number of people outing themselves as holding various levels of clearance and even family members here is worrysome.

I dont know if its for a brag or stupidity but its the second post touching on this subject over the past few days.
Almost as if someone having a good ol' fish and the little bites of information are being freely given.

A now deceased close family member in the military had to provide this. I guess they check it, whether you give permission, or not.

Not a situation we’ve ever encountered, but he could get it anyways, they’re just simplifying the task for him and always have been happy to do so.

No they don't.

He’s being what used to be called “positively vetted.” He’s probably getting access to a new information source or a new piece of equipment/software. He can’t tell you what it is is because then he’d fail his vetting is my guess.

Oh for goodness sake!!! I couldn't care less about being asked for that information, what is "very intrusive and rather dubious" about it? It's OP's FIL, who works in a government role, asking for the info, not a random stranger off the street.

Why, what do you think they are going to do with it? I can assure you that anyone with this sort of information on their data base doesn't spend their spare time reading it and taking notes.

I’m ‘reading all night’ whilst you’re ‘dreaming’…..🤣🤣

apologies.
Read prev posts ….. just glad I’m not in this situation too

Is it that you have a problem giving him the information over WhatsApp, or that you have a problem with him having the information?

If it's the former, you could just give it to him in person.

Why does it matter how he asks them?

Surely it's perfectly sensible to ask the group in that way, each person can choose how they reply

The head of MI6 isnt a secret, are you sure that's what he was?

You don’t get out much do you? 🤦‍♀️

This is normal for security clearance and not even for the top level

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.

A decent father and brother would already know all that info about their own children and siblings. Very odd. I wouldn't send all my personal info in a single text. I'd also be changing my security questions for banking etc.

It's a fucking nightmare as I found out last year when I started working on some DIO projects.

On what basis are you disputing my statement? Do you propose that we somehow compare qualifications within bounds over MumsNet?

It is obvious from my anecdote about my middle name, ad innocent as can be, that the information provided by individuals will be collated against external sources

Isn’t the mother’s maiden name on a person’s birth certificate? Apologies if someone has already asked this.

It’s normal and surely that is all info a family member would know or could find out anyway?

He is just asking for people to put it in one place to make his life a bit easier.

Why wouldn’t you?

As PP have mentioned , WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, making it a highly secure means of communication.

I'd also be changing my security questions for banking etc.

Definitely this.

But I’m not sure I’d be handing over all that info about myself in the first place.

Given that OP’s fil is not changing employers, or even his position, I’m left wondering why it’s suddenly necessary?

Having said that, I’m particularly suspicious of giving any info out since I came within a hairs breadth of giving my credit card info to a site that looked exactly like a clothing store I’ve shopped at online for years, but it was , as it turns out, a very professional looking scam. It’s only the extra step in paying, that had not been requested previously, that caused me to pause and rethink. As it is they got my name, email address , phone number and home address. I’ve had so many scam emails and texts since. I delete before reading any texts I don’t recognise, and I’m in the process of changing over to another email address.

Why are people saying they would change their security questions?

I don’t get it. He isn’t asking for anything a family member or friend wouldn’t know anyway. How rubbish are your security questions?