Industry news

Govt should avoid data holding, warns ICO

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has supported a report from the Home Affairs Committee that advises against departments holding large amounts of data, it has emerged.

According to the committee, a policy of minimising data held by government departments and reducing the levels of surveillance in the country is advisable.

Richard Thomas, the information commissioner, welcomed the recommendations saying it is essential the risks of being a surveillance society "never manifest themselves in this country".

"Before new developments take place which could increase levels of surveillance, full consideration must be given to the privacy impact on individuals, and on ensuring that safeguards are in place to minimise intrusion," he added.

It concluded that large databases like that proposed for the National Health Service are not ideal because they put the trust between the public and state under threat.

Meanwhile, IDC revealed this week that disk-based data storage in the first quarter of 2008 grew by 9.4 per cent compared to the same period last year.