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?

I've had to give this level of info before a second interview for a security sensitive organisation. If I'd been offered the job there would have been an even more intrusive investigation and thay was for a Finance role.

That is fascinating.

But if Fil is a spy surely he could ‘spy’ all the info out.

None of my in-laws would have a clue about my security questions. I wouldn’t have a clue about theirs either.

It's vetting ?

Do you think that it would be better if the government just hired anyone to deal with sensitive information, without checking at all who they were or who their family were? Just give anyone an admin password, don't worry about it?

My brother needed this information from DH and I for a job with the police.

I can’t see the drama

No, they wouldn't. Vetting, including Developed Vetting, involves him providing the information first and then them verifying it. At which stage they may or may not contact you.

Unless you have reason to be suspicious of your FIL I'm not sure why you'd Instantly question his motives here.

You need to update clearance regularly but he’s clearing getting a higher level - maybe DV clearance. It could be that they’ve been told they need this clearance for their current role or a project they are doing. Why wouldn’t you trust your FIL with this info? Ask him to provide a bit more context to this as to why he needs the info. Sure he’s not about to scam you all.

No, the employee completes that information, then the security checks team will check you all out. When my ex got a higher clearance his best friend was interviewed and asked all kinds of questions, including would he cheat on me. They interviewed me too.

Sounds really weird. I moved to the US from the UK and they didn't need all that info for a visa. Like parents only and not even my step father.
I personally would not be handing over all that info to anyone, really suspicious and I would need to see the reason why it was needed especially as you are not an immediate blood relative.

This is standard for some types of clearance unfortunately iv been through it twice for my job. Some of them can be very intrusive and an over all nightmare (for good reasons which he may not be able to disclose). Unfortunately work don't do it for you as it is your clearance not theirs so its your responsibility to request. They don't really check you I don't think, as far as I am aware they check you are not linked to any criminal offences which could effect your fil position

So you think he's lying?

I've had to provide this info for my dad's work - his covered slightly fewer people, and I'm not sure exactly what info they needed as obviously my dad knows most of it for me so didn't need to come to me to find out mum's maiden name etc. But he did need me to confirm dates of changes of address so there was an address history part (dad knew the addresses, wasn't sure on dates).

This thread has been an eye opener!

Regardless, I would be responding that I would give this info in person not via WhatsApp.

When DS needed the highest level of security for his job it was the company that contacted us for information, not DS (he did tell us we would be vetted).

Have you read the thread littlemouse10?

Sounds like vetting questions, I had to gather all this info for mine for the same people. I doubt vetting units have enough staff to do it for every applicant

I get vetted every ten years and have to provide this information. I even had to include my PIL details despite them both dying two years prior to the last time I had the form to fill in. All sounds legit except mother’s maiden name, I can’t see why they would want that.
We have to provide what we can, my employer wouldn’t contact anyone. Some people can’t fill the whole form in because they don’t know the information, one coworker could only put his dad’s name and nothing else for him. If you don’t want to provide the information don’t, but he might get the information from someone else in the family.

Still, how is asking someone for their personal details an ssue? Are you suggesting that the fact they have personal details is unknown?

I had to provide all of those when I worked for the MoD. It's fairly standard information for higher clearance checks...not sure why you think it's anything sinister! I bet if it was your own father asking you'd be less reticent.

My check for clearance to work on a project included parents, siblings, spouse, children, house mates.

It didn't include in-laws.

The rules may have changed or he may be on a more sensitive project. It's not impossible. If you say no, it will delay him being able to start his job because it will take them longer to hunt out your information.

'Random relative'?? Seriously? This is her DHs FATHER!! Not a 'random relative' ffs! 🤦‍♀️ Get a grip!

Sounds standard to me.
One of my siblings worked briefly for the MoD and we were all asked to give this info, and gladly gave it to her.
I really don’t think there’s anything sinister about the request, although it’s your decision whether to share or not.

I had to do this for my brother, next level security for a project. He even had to provide details of deceased family members. I wouldn’t make life difficult it’s information you probably have given out before anyway.

If he needs a higher level of security clearance then it wouldn’t be unusual for him to have to supply this info. You might also be interviewed as part of the process.