The British Computer Society urges MPs to reject new data-sharing legislation

The British Computer Society (BCS) has added its voice to those expressing concern about the data-sharing provisions in the Coroners & Justice Bill now going through parliament.

The BCS has written to MPs asking them to kill the bill, saying, “It drives a coach and horses through the Data Protection Act”. The BCS says that paragraphs 152-154 and Schedule 18 of the bill ran counter to the intentions and provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998, in particular by devaluing the principal of informed consent.

The bill, now in the committee stage, contains provisions that allow the government to share personal data between departments. It is a cornerstone of the government's efforts to streamline processes and make administration more efficient. But the Information Commissioner's Office and privacy advocates have expressed deep reservations, saying the powers it grants are too wide.

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