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News

Some 'good news' at last!

6 replies

NetworkGuy · 12/05/2010 22:18

Third Heathrow runway plans scrapped

Identity cards set to be scrapped along with reforms to the DNA database (ie not keeping DNA of those found innocent), tighter regulation of CCTV and a review of libel laws.

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HerBeatitude · 12/05/2010 22:21

Yo yo yo

V. good news.

I'd like that Connexions database scrapped as well.

NetworkGuy · 13/05/2010 00:26

Which one is that, please? I notice there's one not yet mentioned, concerning the details recorded about travel (including how one paid the fare), but don't yet know the 'official' name for that one.

Came across some Rowntree foundation report that of around 46 databases, only 6 weren't problematic (in a being illegal sense).

Computer Weekly has an article indicating some 15 billion pounds of IT projects are on the "hit list".

As most people working in IT know, government projects are notorious for being overdue and over budget (and regularly designed by some team of civil servants who didn't work with the 'end users' to find out what the end users need the software to provide for them, so the specifications have generally been inadequate or inflexible, or both, and subsequent "tweaks" are much of the reason for overdue, over budget.

One would have hoped they would learn from their errors but seems not to have been the case. Some of the points on the CW article:

? The scrapping of ID card scheme and the National Identity register (£4bn), the next generation of biometric passports and the Contact Point Database (£224m)

? Ending of storage of internet and email records without good reason (£12bn)

? Outlawing the fingerprinting of children at school without parental permission

? The extension of the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to provide greater transparency.

? Adopting the protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database

? The protection of historic freedoms through the defence of trial by jury

? The restoration of rights to non-violent protest

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scaryteacher · 13/05/2010 08:56

The one about travel is the Border Agency one, which I have no problem with, as it is designed to stop the importation of people and goods that should not be coming into the country.

Contactpoint should go as soon as possible.

NetworkGuy · 13/05/2010 11:12

Well, you may have no qualms about the travel one, but I do, as someone who doesn't particularly feel the UK's authorities have any right to know when and where I visit, nor how much I spent on travel, or how I paid.

As it happens there's a legal issue over collecting and storing the info, too.

There's a ZDnet article on the issue
here.

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Callisto · 13/05/2010 11:20

Any Government database of info about it's electorate should be viewed with extreme suspicion. The more that are scrapped the better.

Thank goodness the Tories/Lib Dems want to give us back some personal freedoms.

NetworkGuy · 13/05/2010 11:33

Wonder how many of the 40-odd will still be in place in 5 years.

I hope they can halve the number, though clearly some will still be essential (but hopefully kept more secure - details of millions of UK citizens being lost does not look good).

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