Author: info@amberhawk.com

Does it breach the Data Protection Act to process personal data about all demonstrators in order to identify those demonstrators who are also “domestic extremists”?  To answer this question, it is instructive to apply the Data Protection Principles to the photographing of a demonstration by the police. The relevant explanation of the term “domestic extremism” is found on the website of National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit (NETCU is the Unit that is at the centre of the controversy (http://www.netcu.org.uk/de/default.jsp). Its

Yesterday’s BBC news website carried a story headlined “Bedroom snooper row over census”. “For the first time”, the report says “people will be asked to provide details of the number of bedrooms they have as well as the names, sex and birth dates of any overnight guests in their homes”. “Other new questions”, the report adds “include how well people can speak English, the date overseas nationals entered the UK, how people define their national identity and whether they are

In a way that mirrors the undertakings signed by UK data controllers, six U.S. businesses have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that they deceived consumers by falsely claiming they were abiding by the EU/U.S. Safe Harbor framework.  According to six separate complaints filed by the FTC, the six companies deceptively claimed they held current certifications under the Safe Harbor framework. The framework is a voluntary program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce in consultation with the

According to Monday’s Guardian: “Home Office climbs down over keeping DNA records on innocent”. On the same day the BBC reported: “The government has dropped plans to give ministers wide powers on holding innocent people's DNA data on record”.  Both news outlets reported the Government’s actions to withdraw clauses on DNA retention in terms of a victory for civil liberties. ‘Scuse me – I think these journalists have jumped the gun. The Policing and Crime Bill had proposed providing Ministers

I might be old fashioned, but I think it’s OK for the police to retain those criminal records they need to do their job. So I am not surprised by yesterday’s Appeal Court decision that allowed them to do so, even when there were disclosures of trivial and ancient criminal details for employment purposes. For example, the Appeal Court considered the case of HP, who in March 1984 was 16 years of age. He stole items from a display in