Are citizens’ data well protected? MPs to explore use of data in statistics and research
How well are the privacy and data of citizens in the UK being protected? And are the decisions being taken about the use of this data in statistics and research ethical? This is what MPs on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will set out to investigate in their evidence session next week.
Meeting details
Tuesday’s hearing will explore the current legislative landscape for the protection of data, and examine whether there is compliance with this legislation, putting questions on these matters to the Information Commissioner, John Edwards.
The cross-party Committee will also consider the ethical questions that arise as public agencies access and link new data sources, hearing from representatives from the organisations Ipsos and Connected by Data. MPs will also look at public attitudes to the changing data landscape, including the degree to which citizens trust the public bodies who collect, store and analyse their data.
In previous evidence sessions for this inquiry, PACAC heard that public bodies are collecting and linking ever more data. Tuesday’s session will serve as an opportunity for MPs to find out whether government officials could engage more with citizens and communities about the privacy and ethical issues underlying the collection and use of their data.