Readers respond: how much data should government hold?

Of course it is necessary for the Government hold some information about us in order for our society to fully functiion. The proposed National Identity Register, with its minimum of 51 data items on each of us, plus an entire audit log of all the times and places it was accessed, is hardly proportionate. And on the DNA database, an entry is nigh impossible to get removed once added, irrespective of your innocence. Once compulsory ID cards are introduced you won't be able to choose not to give your details to the Government.

My2p

There is a fundamental issue underlying this fiasco. This government has failed in so many areas of responsibility it is clearly not governing properly. The missing data is just one of many examples. The fundamental issue is this: this government's first objective is to stay in power, not to govern. Its real skill is not in administration but "spin".

John Slater

Why on earth would we give permission to this government, nay, any government, to acquire and hold so much information about so many, considering their track record so far? It is each and every person's responsibility to employ critical thinking in this matter. The ID card scheme, the DNA database, and the consolidation of personal data will provide a universe of opportunity for error, abuse, and downright tyranny.

Isaac George

This is where private enterprise being allowed into the public sector gets us. A decision that should only have ever been made on safety was instead made on cost. Railways, the NHS and now our personal details. When will we all realise that profit should play no part in public services? Perhaps when they stop being allowed to take jammy jobs on the boards of the private companies in question?

Scrumper

Are the criminals the danger? This disaster has shown the real danger is the Government. No one will be prosecuted – and no one will go to jail. The best we will see is a whitewash to show that it was an isolated incident and new measures are in place. This shows how casually all and any information is shared between authorities.

Ely

I am a UK citizen living in Germany. The UK has more computer information about me than Germany does. Recent events have shown how this information is vulnerable – the question is not "if" but "when" such information will be decoded by criminals or other unauthorised persons. This is the reason why I have always been anti-ID card and I deplore this government for infringing personal liberties and rights more than any other.

David Williams

Ludwigsburg, Germany

Of course the Government is responsible, they must be held to account for squeezing the budgets of these departments so that proper precautions were not taken.

Greame

It is time the law was changed to provide the same level of protection for private individuals' data as is applied to government data. Much is made of the fact that the individual who posted these discs was a junior member of staff. I'm sure that if a junior member of staff had breached the Official Secrets Act there would be no allowance made for their age and lack of experience.

Jim Backus