[NetBehaviour] Big Brother Database:

[marc]

Big Brother Database:
Whitehall plan for huge database.

By Mark Easton
Home editor, BBC News.

A giant database of people's personal details could be created at 
Whitehall under government plans which ministers say will help improve 
public services. Tony Blair is expected to unveil the proposal in 
Downing Street on Monday.

Strict regulations currently prevent one part of government sharing 
personal information it holds with another.
Ministers argue the data-sharing rules are "overzealous" but the 
Conservatives say relaxing them would be "an excuse for bureaucrats to 
snoop".

So-called citizens' panels will gauge public reaction to relaxing 
privacy procedures so people do not have to repeat personal information 
to different public bodies - particularly at times of stress such as a 
family death.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6260153.stm