Author: info@amberhawk.com

Are data retention policies misguided?

One of the points not reported in connection with the horrific crimes of paedophile Venessa George  is the failure of the comprehensive vetting system. The reason: there was no record of her involvement in such activities. She wasn’t even uncovered by staff at the nursery (why? – another question), but picked up when the police arrested another individual who had retained copies of electronic communications linked to her. If that person had been more careful, then most likely George would

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General Election approaches – no UK strategy for privacy in sight.

Well the political conference season is nearly over, a General Election is round the corner, and no major political party (apart from the Scottish Nationalist Party) has a policy to establish a framework of privacy protection. The result, I fear, is that we will continue onwards as before. All the English opposition political parties seem to think that if they do something like scrap the ID Card scheme, drop the NHS central spine database etc then everything in the privacy

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Do privacy enhancing technologies have an Achilles Heel?

I want to return to the claim that “security versus privacy is a false dichotomy” made by Dr. Ann Cavoukian in her Seven Principles (see last week’s blog). The reason: I am beginning to think that this dichotomy is alive and well and the Principle that asserts a “false dichotomy” is wrong. I want to explore this issue in the context of CCTV cameras but I think the problem I raise could apply to many Privacy Enhancing Technologies or Privacy

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Parliament, sensitive personal data and the National Identity Register

During the following week of the Labour Conference I am taking a keen interest as what Charles Clarke MP, serial critic of Gordon Brown, says. Whether, for example, he talks about “integrity”, “transparency” or “accountability” – that kind of stuff. “Ahhhh”, I can hear you say, “this is proof positive that Chris really needs to get out more”. But you would be wrong; the issue affects us all as it strikes at what Parliamentary accountability really means. One example should

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Canadian Commissioner promotes the principles of privacy by design

Dr. Ann Cavoukian, the Information and Privacy for Commissioner for Ontario, has been championing the cause of Privacy by Design concepts for years. I can remember an International Commissioner’s conference over a decade ago where she presented her paper on Privacy Enhancing Technologies showing that there were technical solutions to real data protection problems. Now she has published two new documents: the first sets out seven principles for Privacy by Design; the second sets out the possibility of using of

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Information Tribunal changes likely to result in more FOI/DP judicial reviews.

Hawktalk’s own informants and spies have managed to glean significant intelligence about the discussions at the first General Regulatory Chamber (GRC) Conference held recently at Warwick University.  No, this wasn’t a meeting of a Grand Masonic Lodge but rather an event that will be of significance to all DP and FOI practitioners, the latter being most affected. The reason: there is the prospect of a further appeal beyond the decisions made by a new Information Tribunal where that appeal does

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Aussie dossiers subject to the right of access?

Justin Langer, the veteran Australian batsmen, in a farewell interview published in the Sunday Times yesterday mentioned the fact that “Our assistant coach gives us a thick dossier on every opposition side…. This happens every day in county cricket nowadays, let alone international cricket”. Justin Langer also told the paper that he himself had added to one Aussie dossier, referring to James Anderson, England’s opening bowler as “pussy” (whatever that means). Of course private dossiers of personal information held by

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Home Secretary spends 90 minutes per day with interception warrants?

Home Secretaries down the ages always say that when they sign a warrant that allows the authorities to intercept the content of a communication, they consider the matter very seriously. And in fact Section 5 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) requires the Secretary of State not to issue an interception warrant unless he believes, that the warrant is proportionate and necessary either (a) in the interests of national security; or (b) for the purpose of preventing or

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Conservative policy to limit the surveillance state has significant privacy gaps

If the press response is anything to go by, the policy paper “Revising the rise of the Surveillance Society”, published by the Conservative Party yesterday, promises much in relation to enhanced privacy. Indeed, there is much to be welcomed. However, if you apply the principles underpinning “Nine principles for assessing whether privacy is protected in a surveillance society” (a download section of the main Amberhawk web-site), you will soon find significant gaps. For example, the policy paper’s commitment to Parliamentary

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