The Prime Minister has today announced a shake up of the Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation in a review of the UK's secrecy and data protection laws. Proposals put forward by the Prime Minister will potentially see FOI extended to private firms. The 30 year rule on releasing government secrets is also to be reviewed.
The Justice Secretary Jack Straw had earlier indicated that the review to be undertaken by the Information Commissioner on "the way we share and protect personal information" will be wide ranging.
The Prime Minister's announcements came within a speech about liberty in modern Britain. As British citizens we are subject to a greater degree of surveillance than any other nation on earth. There is now a vast amount of information available about individuals and such information is sometimes misused. A review of what information can be legally collected, how it is processed and who has access to that information is long overdue. Watch this space for further developments.
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