Fraud initiatives could deter public, warns data registrar

17 Jun 99
The Data Protection Registrar has warned councils that an overzealous pursuit of data matching could undermine attempts to modernise the way the public gains access to services.

18 June 1999

The Modernising Government white paper seeks to provide joined-up government backed up by new technology. Under the proposals, members of the public would only have to contact government once to update personal details in future, rather than make several calls to different departments and agencies. There are ambitious plans for 'smart' cards, electronic benefit applications and 24-hour access to services.

But the registrar has warned that the success of projects such as this could be undermined by a preoccupation with fraud detection using data matching techniques.

According to Phil Boyd, a senior compliance manager with the registrar, there is a danger that if councils focus efforts on data matching, people may be less willing to participate. 'Fraud prevention is important, but so are other initiatives,' he said. 'Judging fraud initiatives solely on their own merits could undermine confidence in other initiatives.'

In an official response to the government's white paper, the registrar points to the experience of the poll tax as evidence that councils will have to take a wider perspective. In that instance, the revelation that the electoral roll was used for tracing non-payers led to a decline in registered voters.

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