Data management
Related news
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Members' notes
BrianICT generates, aggregates and stores data. For example, an online search or email automatically leaves a data trail, unlike a phone or face-to-face conversation, the results of which would take additional effort to record. Therefore, the amount of personal information that others hold on us is growing, and many are concerned about what they see as a dangerous lack of awareness or concern about this amongst the general public. ICT is increasingly being used to develop in-depth profiles of individuals based on their online behaviour, and the information they willingly or inadvertently supply online. It will become easier to join-up data held by different public service providers in the name of seamless customer experience and the expectation that data should be shared is likely to increase. There is growing public unease about the privacy and security of data as well as growing concern over who actually 'owns' the data (for example the data provided in social networks like facebook).
What are the implications?
- Benefits, such as a more personal service
- Concerns about privacy and trust
- The need to be compliant with mandatory legislation which governs organisations which collect and hold data, such as the data protection act.
- The need for common standards in information and identity management is likely to impact on VCOs delivering services under contract to public bodies
- Expectations that data will be shared leads to a risk that users will perceive VCOs as part of a bigger project holding data that people have no control over.
- There are a number of ethical issues regarding how data is used – it may be collected for one purpose and used for another
- Vulnerable groups are particularly at risk of agencies abusing confidentiality of data
- As the public become more aware of the use of data they may be more reluctant to share information
- Organisations will need to ensure they store and use data appropriately
Moving forward
The aggregation and storage of data presents challenges for VCOs, particularly those operating in the same environment as the public sector. A discussion hosted by e-gov monitor[1] highlighted the following questions:
- Who owns what data and who is responsible for maintaining accuracy and currency?
- Who decides what data can be shared and with what organisations?
- Who polices data sharing? Who polices the policemen?
- Data standards – how do we share data that could potential be held in several different formats?
- What constitutes appropriate access?
Do you need to review your current data management processes? Do you have a data management plan? Is it clear how and where data is stored by your organisation and who has operational and executive authority over its management? How is it archived, deleted, protected or secured?
Does your organisation need to communicate to beneficiaries more clearly about how the data you store on them might be used?
Perhaps the staff in your organisation would benefit from training on data protection to be clear about what they can and can not do with personal data?
If you share data with other agencies do you need to think about the process and communication of this to maintain the trust of your users and the wider public?
Do you need to think about how you share data with other agencies in order to improve services to beneficiaries or provide sufficient duty of care?
Do you have a role to play in helping to improve public understanding (or your users’ understanding) about how data is used?
Want to know more?
Published by: Demos – a left-wing think tank
Date: 2008
Format: PDF
What is it? This is a long report, with much of it less relevant to this issue. Chapter 6 analyses privacy and data sharing from the perspective of risk, using various public services to illustrate the key issues. It is essentially a discussion piece rather than a report on specific research.
How useful is this? This provides a useful discussion of the key issues. In addition, the report's other chapters give a good(albeit lengthy) overview of related issues.
Other comments:
Overlooked: Surveillance and personal privacy in modern Britain
Published by: Liberty, a campaigning organisation promoting personal liberty
Date: 2007
Format: PDF
What is it? This is a long report exploring many areas of the “surveillance society”. Chapter 5 is of particular interest, with a focus on mass data retention in the context of identity cards and the Children Index.
How useful is this? Chapter 5 of this report gives a sound analysis of the situation, including public attitudes. The other chapters also provide useful discussions of other related issues.
Other comments:
Government plans personal data sharing scheme
Published by: Computer weekly
Date: 2009
Format: Web
What is it? This is a short article outlining some key issues in data sharing.
How useful is this? In itself, this article provides only a brief analysis. However, through hyperlinks, it connects to further relevant articles on the internet, providing a helpful starting point for further reading.
Other comments:
Yield control of personal data
Published by: publicservice.co.uk, which describes itself as “The Informational Portal for the Public Sector”
Date: June 2009
Format: Web
What is it? This article is inspired by a report by the Conservative think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies. The emphasis of the article (and of the underlying report) is that data held by government should be freed up for wider use.
How useful is this? This article usefully outlines some of the key issues. However, the underlying research is not available, which limits the value of the article.
Public does not trust government with personal data
Published by: Computer Weekly
Date: March 2008
Format: Web
What is it? This article is inspired by recent research by Data Encryption Systems. It also touches on other relevant issues such as ID cards and trust in data security.
How useful is this? The article outlines some of the key issues in a politically neutral context. However, the underlying research is not available, which limits the value of the article.
Published by: The Guardian, left-of-centre broadsheet
Date: January, 2009
Format: Web
What is it? This is a comment article rather than an evidence-based report. Nevertheless, the article, along with the accompanying reader comments give a good account of the attitudes of this more vocal segment of society.
How useful is this? Although interesting ideas are presented, the context is that of a left-wing broadsheet and the respondents represented in the comments are not a reliable sample of the UK public.
Social networking: quantitative and qualitative research report into attitudes, behaviours, and use
Published by: Ofcom, independent regulatory body for the UK communications industry
Date: 2008
Format: PDF
What is it? This report is based on a research programme involving both qualitative and quantitative arms. The research has multiple stages and good sample sizes.
How useful is this? This is a long report with only a short chapter on privacy and data use. The data under consideration is typically provided by the users and may include, for example, their home city, photographs and use of alcohol or recreational drugs. Thus, this report is more concerned with people’s willingness to supply information rather than informed opinions on data use.
Published by: Institute for Insight in the Public Services (IIPS)
Date: 2008
Format: PDF
What is it? This report examines public attitudes to the sharing of data across government departments. There appears to be an underlying assumption that data sharing is essentially a positive approach. The research thus focuses on questions such as the reasons behind resistance and the areas in which respondents are more resistant.
How useful is this? This is a useful report, although the possible bias in favour of data sharing should be kept in mind. A key conclusion of the report is that while the public is unhappy with data sharing between government departments, this resistance typically is reversed once purported benefits are explained.
Discuss
How will this affect your organisation? Have you considered it during your strategic planning? Can you share any interesting relevant links?
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