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The issue of identity management and data sharing is complex and offers both risk and opportunity for the public sector. We ask for your views on this conundrum as part of the Transformational Government Series

This event series begins a discourse to be carried both online through eGov monitor and GovXchange communities as well as through the offline events being held around the country.  Even if you cannot participate physically at the events, your views are important and the more contributions we receive the better will be the quality of discourse. 

We have highlighted some perspectives from some stakeholders including ourselves on issues ranging from the debate on legal foundation to opportunities and challenges on sharing data across the public sector.

We would like your views on these issues, please write to us at: rupert.george@egovmonitor.com

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This publication believes data sharing is imperative if we are to achieve the goals of the transformational government strategy and deliver truly citizen centric services.  While imperative data sharing needs proactive independent oversight, may be even adopting the French model. More importantly, our views are that technology can enable both better public services and a transparent and accountable process. You can read our thoughts on the debate around data sharing here: node/7533

An often-raised doubt is whether existing legislation allows sharing of data across departmental boundaries or between agencies and levels of government. We posed that question to Baroness Aston, Information Rights Minister at the Department for Constitutional Affairs who said the current legislation based on European law do not prohibit legitimate data sharing.

She also adds a caveat “…..it requires data to be processed (and processing can include sharing) fairly and lawfully - the first data protection principle - but it does not specify the means by which processing is to be regarded as "lawful".  Government agencies must therefore, be certain that they have a lawful basis for the data sharing/processing in question. This lawful basis can, in the UK, be via Common Law or via statute law.”  She also warns of potential social exclusion of certain individuals and part of society due to decisions based on inadequate information and therefore hopes that effective data sharing will solve this.

DCA is reviewing the situation to identify what changes are required in statute laws for data sharing across the public sector. Read the full interview here: node/7967

Now, exploring more closely the most important benefits and opportunities that data sharing brings, there is a consensus that data sharing allows better coordination of efforts between different agencies which ultimately lead to the key objective – better for the citizen.  Many have focused on the efficiency aspects and have touched upon how it reduces the burden on local authorities.

But mostly it was about being able to act when needed and proactively support those who are most vulnerable. One participant has used the example of a vulnerable child.  Data sharing in these situations can save lives ensure the child is not left behind and thus enable a better community. 

Well put we thought – but there are challenges.

Alexander Isaac from Social Market Foundation in his article (node/8440 ) highlighted some of the key challenges the government faces in dealing with identity management and data sharing.  For the purposes of the article he assumed that the government will be able to address these three important aspects and they are:

1. Being able to identify the right time to share data for effective and efficient service delivery or compliance enforcement
2. Being able to overcome the doubts over the legal issues
3. Being able to secure and deploy the right technology that would support sharing of data securely and with appropriate audit trail.

Alex says even if the public sector can resolve these issues there still exists the challenge of reforming processes, silo mindsets and budgetary issues. Many of the participants have agreed with Alex stating their concerns about silo mindset and governance issues.

Others have pointed out the scale of the project itself is daunting and could face potential problems in implementation considering the varying nature of technology infrastructure the public sector uses. 

Some of the political stakeholders have commented on the public’s reluctance and the potential pitfalls of proliferation of so much personal data especially when Identity Fraud is now a major criminal industry.  According to Nigel Evans MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Identity Fraud, people are now more worried about identity fraud than mugging and the estimated cost of identity fraud to the UK economy is at least £1.7 billion.  Read his full article on identity fraud here:  node/8190

Don’t forget we would like your views to help explore these issues, so please write with your thoughts via email at: rupert.george@egovmonitor.com