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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/18/drivers-data-to-go-offshore
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 16 | Version 17 |
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| Private data on British drivers will be stored offshore | Private data on British drivers will be stored offshore |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The government has secretly agreed that the "particularly sensitive" personal data of all 43 million drivers in the UK can be contracted offshore to India in a move that will allow the private firm running London's congestion zone to cut costs and make more money. | The government has secretly agreed that the "particularly sensitive" personal data of all 43 million drivers in the UK can be contracted offshore to India in a move that will allow the private firm running London's congestion zone to cut costs and make more money. |
| Data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, including addresses and registration plate numbers, along with credit card details, will now be accessible to staff outside the UK following a review by ministers. | Data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, including addresses and registration plate numbers, along with credit card details, will now be accessible to staff outside the UK following a review by ministers. |
| The prohibition was rescinded after IBM, which runs the congestion charge zone for Transport for London (TfL), lobbied for a change. The company has been repeatedly fined since it took over the contract from Capita in 2009, making the £60m deal less profitable than it had hoped. | The prohibition was rescinded after IBM, which runs the congestion charge zone for Transport for London (TfL), lobbied for a change. The company has been repeatedly fined since it took over the contract from Capita in 2009, making the £60m deal less profitable than it had hoped. |
| However the move to relax the rules around the sensitive data, which has not been publicly announced, raises concerns in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics about the increased risk of fraud. | However the move to relax the rules around the sensitive data, which has not been publicly announced, raises concerns in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics about the increased risk of fraud. |
| It is understood that a risk assessment carried out within IBM has also identified a potential threat to London's reputation should the changes lessen the ability of staff to deal with problems in the congestion zone IT systems. It also warned of the risk to the security of sensitive data. | It is understood that a risk assessment carried out within IBM has also identified a potential threat to London's reputation should the changes lessen the ability of staff to deal with problems in the congestion zone IT systems. It also warned of the risk to the security of sensitive data. |
| The move also appears to contradict ministers' recent insistence that they would resist any work on government contracts going abroad. | The move also appears to contradict ministers' recent insistence that they would resist any work on government contracts going abroad. |
| The transition allowing staff abroad access to the data is expected to be completed by 18 May. An internal email sent by IBM's commercial manager earlier this month, and seen by the Observer, says: "Since go live, TfL has directed that we retain within the UK certain support roles with access to data that they considered particularly sensitive… TfL has recently completed a risk assessment with the DVLA and the Department for Transport and has concluded that they no longer require this additional level of control… As a result we have commenced a transition exercise to manage the changes to our support organisation over the next three months." | The transition allowing staff abroad access to the data is expected to be completed by 18 May. An internal email sent by IBM's commercial manager earlier this month, and seen by the Observer, says: "Since go live, TfL has directed that we retain within the UK certain support roles with access to data that they considered particularly sensitive… TfL has recently completed a risk assessment with the DVLA and the Department for Transport and has concluded that they no longer require this additional level of control… As a result we have commenced a transition exercise to manage the changes to our support organisation over the next three months." |
| Labour MP John McDonnell said he feared the change would cost British jobs. "Despite all past promises from the government, the decision to offshore this sensitive information database will not only cost jobs but open up vast opportunities for fraud. Offshoring the congestion charge operation just as we host the Olympics also risks making Britain the laughing stock of the world as the new system inevitably experiences teething problems." | Labour MP John McDonnell said he feared the change would cost British jobs. "Despite all past promises from the government, the decision to offshore this sensitive information database will not only cost jobs but open up vast opportunities for fraud. Offshoring the congestion charge operation just as we host the Olympics also risks making Britain the laughing stock of the world as the new system inevitably experiences teething problems." |
| The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said it was concerned that the decision had come just as the government was consulting over whether to close 39 DVLA offices to centralise processes in Swansea. | The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said it was concerned that the decision had come just as the government was consulting over whether to close 39 DVLA offices to centralise processes in Swansea. |
| Richard Simcox, from the PCS, said: "It appears neither IBM nor DVLA were planning to tell anyone about it. The government should call an immediate halt to the DVLA's plans and ministers should explain to MPs and the public exactly what has happened and what are the implications." | Richard Simcox, from the PCS, said: "It appears neither IBM nor DVLA were planning to tell anyone about it. The government should call an immediate halt to the DVLA's plans and ministers should explain to MPs and the public exactly what has happened and what are the implications." |
| A DVLA spokesperson said: "All IT systems must be managed to the same standard as if they were in the UK. We will ensure that all appropriate controls for data protection are in place." | A DVLA spokesperson said: "All IT systems must be managed to the same standard as if they were in the UK. We will ensure that all appropriate controls for data protection are in place." |
| • This article was amended on 18 March 2012 to correct references to birth dates being stored offshore | • This article was amended on 18 March 2012 to correct references to birth dates being stored offshore |
| Comments | Comments |
| 37 comments, displaying first | 37 comments, displaying first |
| 18 March 2012 12:47AM | 18 March 2012 12:47AM |
| Can't we send the Government abroad and keep everything else here instead? | Can't we send the Government abroad and keep everything else here instead? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 12:59AM | 18 March 2012 12:59AM |
| Surely under Data Protection rules our information must not be sent overseas. Or is this another example of the government playing fast and loose with the existing laws | Surely under Data Protection rules our information must not be sent overseas. Or is this another example of the government playing fast and loose with the existing laws |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 1:09AM | 18 March 2012 1:09AM |
| We're selling everything to the lowest bidder. That many of these are from overseas means things like data transfer is inevitable. This country is being sliced apart for the benefit of the individual and corporate rich. Nothing is sacred. Once the NHS is privatised, it would not surprise me if we were soon to discover body parts were turning up abroad. This country is utterly disgusting. | We're selling everything to the lowest bidder. That many of these are from overseas means things like data transfer is inevitable. This country is being sliced apart for the benefit of the individual and corporate rich. Nothing is sacred. Once the NHS is privatised, it would not surprise me if we were soon to discover body parts were turning up abroad. This country is utterly disgusting. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 1:14AM | 18 March 2012 1:14AM |
| @blairnemesis... think they can shift it where they like as long as they stick to UK/GB security/data protection laws. | @blairnemesis... think they can shift it where they like as long as they stick to UK/GB security/data protection laws. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 1:22AM | 18 March 2012 1:22AM |
| The last government of Blair and Brown became financially reckless. | The last government of Blair and Brown became financially reckless. |
| This government, of Cameron and Osborne, are dickheads pure and simple. | This government, of Cameron and Osborne, are dickheads pure and simple. |
| Please tell me and all other Guardian and Observer readers that this story is a hoax. | Please tell me and all other Guardian and Observer readers that this story is a hoax. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 1:34AM | 18 March 2012 1:34AM |
| Yes, I'd agree but could we trust them to manage it securely and would anything happen to them if they failed to do so? I suspect not. Of course that's also true of UK companies too. | Yes, I'd agree but could we trust them to manage it securely and would anything happen to them if they failed to do so? I suspect not. Of course that's also true of UK companies too. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 6:34AM | 18 March 2012 6:34AM |
| This is not the only data our government is outsourcing to India | This is not the only data our government is outsourcing to India |
| The new "government" NEST pension scheme to be introduced this October will see every worker without a pension have their data collected by an Indian company | The new "government" NEST pension scheme to be introduced this October will see every worker without a pension have their data collected by an Indian company |
| This company will have our national insurance number and our wage details and who employs us - even if we don't want to participate in the scheme | This company will have our national insurance number and our wage details and who employs us - even if we don't want to participate in the scheme |
| This data is not just vital for privacy but also vital for British business | This data is not just vital for privacy but also vital for British business |
| Why should any company in India have the right to gather what every British business pays its workers - data which can be used to undercut British business should the data get in to the wrong hands | Why should any company in India have the right to gather what every British business pays its workers - data which can be used to undercut British business should the data get in to the wrong hands |
| No private sector company has a right to know what I earn - yet David Cameron and Nick Clegg think all things are Indian when it comes to our data | No private sector company has a right to know what I earn - yet David Cameron and Nick Clegg think all things are Indian when it comes to our data |
| Surely it should ONLY BE HMRC who collects our personal employment data on behalf of our government, especially when the government has stated we MUST enrol - even if we don't want to participate (and renew the details every time we change jobs and every 3 years after enrolment) | Surely it should ONLY BE HMRC who collects our personal employment data on behalf of our government, especially when the government has stated we MUST enrol - even if we don't want to participate (and renew the details every time we change jobs and every 3 years after enrolment) |
| I don't want an Indian company gathering this data. I want HMRC gathering this data | I don't want an Indian company gathering this data. I want HMRC gathering this data |
| Employers should refuse to participate - because they could find the data gathered, if it gets in to the wrong hands could put their future business at risk | Employers should refuse to participate - because they could find the data gathered, if it gets in to the wrong hands could put their future business at risk |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 6:43AM | 18 March 2012 6:43AM |
| The government is shutting down all the British DVLA offices - putting British workers (voters) out of work to give this contract to Indians. | The government is shutting down all the British DVLA offices - putting British workers (voters) out of work to give this contract to Indians. |
| Germans to get work building trains affecting British employment Indians gathering data - affecting British emploment | Germans to get work building trains affecting British employment Indians gathering data - affecting British emploment |
| British planes chopped up to allow the government to buy planes from America instead | British planes chopped up to allow the government to buy planes from America instead |
| Yes the coalition - we serve our masters abroad - not the British people | Yes the coalition - we serve our masters abroad - not the British people |
| Policing to be privatised - which will allow British policing to be traded on the stock market - and when G4S is bought by a rich American - then Americans can be brought in to control prison, police, tagging, cctv, number plate recognition | Policing to be privatised - which will allow British policing to be traded on the stock market - and when G4S is bought by a rich American - then Americans can be brought in to control prison, police, tagging, cctv, number plate recognition |
| Foreign companies to take over the running of the NHS - allowing them to use 49% exclusively for people from all over the world - yes we pay for the hospital but we are to be denied access to 49% of the resources to ensure rich foreigners can use it instead | Foreign companies to take over the running of the NHS - allowing them to use 49% exclusively for people from all over the world - yes we pay for the hospital but we are to be denied access to 49% of the resources to ensure rich foreigners can use it instead |
| Yes British MPs expect us to pay tax to be used not for the benefit of British people but their friends in the boardrooms of foreign companies. | Yes British MPs expect us to pay tax to be used not for the benefit of British people but their friends in the boardrooms of foreign companies. |
| Any governement that does not use our taxes for our people and our jobs - is not fit to govern | Any governement that does not use our taxes for our people and our jobs - is not fit to govern |
| British taxes should be used to support jobs in Britain | British taxes should be used to support jobs in Britain |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 7:51AM | 18 March 2012 7:51AM |
| How is this not a breach of the Data Protection Act? The government can't simply ignore it because they want to, it requires the consent of the individual, all 43 million of them. | How is this not a breach of the Data Protection Act? The government can't simply ignore it because they want to, it requires the consent of the individual, all 43 million of them. |
| A DVLA spokesperson said: "All IT systems must be managed to the same standard as if they were in the UK. We will ensure that all appropriate controls for data protection are in place." | A DVLA spokesperson said: "All IT systems must be managed to the same standard as if they were in the UK. We will ensure that all appropriate controls for data protection are in place." |
| Except for the principle about data being transferred outside the EU without consent... | Except for the principle about data being transferred outside the EU without consent... |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 7:54AM | 18 March 2012 7:54AM |
| Not so much playing fast and loose as breaking it completely. I'd get a complaint sent to the ICO immediately if my details were being sent, there's no way in hell that this doesn't breach DPA. | Not so much playing fast and loose as breaking it completely. I'd get a complaint sent to the ICO immediately if my details were being sent, there's no way in hell that this doesn't breach DPA. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 8:01AM | 18 March 2012 8:01AM |
| I am already planning my decision on who to vote for at the next election. I feel cheated at the choices we have on the ballot paper. They are all in it together in trying to sell us out to foreign companies. | I am already planning my decision on who to vote for at the next election. I feel cheated at the choices we have on the ballot paper. They are all in it together in trying to sell us out to foreign companies. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 8:27AM | 18 March 2012 8:27AM |
| Not a bad idea, governement is encouraging councils to share, so why not governments. | Not a bad idea, governement is encouraging councils to share, so why not governments. |
| Cost savings could be enormous, just one issue do we get to choose which one... I think the Tories would probably want us to share with China or Indian for the woring classes & obviously it would be Switzerlan or the Caymans for them! | Cost savings could be enormous, just one issue do we get to choose which one... I think the Tories would probably want us to share with China or Indian for the woring classes & obviously it would be Switzerlan or the Caymans for them! |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 8:32AM | 18 March 2012 8:32AM |
| Everyone would have got a letter about the NHS electronic record, this is in preperation for: | Everyone would have got a letter about the NHS electronic record, this is in preperation for: |
| a) creating/stroing records in thrid wrold countrie b) Passing/sharing this with private companies | a) creating/stroing records in thrid wrold countrie b) Passing/sharing this with private companies |
| Also they are using passive ignorance or lack of response as consent, which agin is in breach of the data protection act... While its breas & butter for the Tories why oh why are the Libdems participating in this.. SELL OUTS.. | Also they are using passive ignorance or lack of response as consent, which agin is in breach of the data protection act... While its breas & butter for the Tories why oh why are the Libdems participating in this.. SELL OUTS.. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 9:06AM | 18 March 2012 9:06AM |
| Just the latest attempt to do this. Not a shock. | Just the latest attempt to do this. Not a shock. |
| Seimens got NS&I jobs off-shored to India under the Labour government. | Seimens got NS&I jobs off-shored to India under the Labour government. |
| DWP has been trying to get work off-shored for nearly a decade, including call centres. | DWP has been trying to get work off-shored for nearly a decade, including call centres. |
| NHS IT work has been done in India, including sending of databases of patient data. | NHS IT work has been done in India, including sending of databases of patient data. |
| There is no point making this into a party political issue. The previous governments attempted to do, and sometimes succeeded with doing, pretty much the same thing as described in this article. | There is no point making this into a party political issue. The previous governments attempted to do, and sometimes succeeded with doing, pretty much the same thing as described in this article. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 9:36AM | 18 March 2012 9:36AM |
| Attackers who are looking to steal data from databases do not read data protection and security standards. They continuously hone their skills to take advantage in security level changes: such as the shift to India. | Attackers who are looking to steal data from databases do not read data protection and security standards. They continuously hone their skills to take advantage in security level changes: such as the shift to India. |
| It takes months and even years for Government agencies to draft privacy and security standards. So that when they are finally released they are outdated and almost worthless : IBMers know this as well as anyone else. | It takes months and even years for Government agencies to draft privacy and security standards. So that when they are finally released they are outdated and almost worthless : IBMers know this as well as anyone else. |
| Transferring data to and from India from the U.K, creates extra, unnecessary security risks. For the sake of making short-term cost savings. | Transferring data to and from India from the U.K, creates extra, unnecessary security risks. For the sake of making short-term cost savings. |
| The sudden change in the decision-making process in favour of IBM. Indicates that the lobbying process should also be made transparent. | The sudden change in the decision-making process in favour of IBM. Indicates that the lobbying process should also be made transparent. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 9:41AM | 18 March 2012 9:41AM |
| It doesn't really matter where the data is. It's who is authorised to access it, that's the challenge. | It doesn't really matter where the data is. It's who is authorised to access it, that's the challenge. |
| One that governments have failed to meet. | One that governments have failed to meet. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 10:22AM | 18 March 2012 10:22AM |
| They'll find a way round it. The company that is receiving the data is British or will be made British so its servers will be British and hence not outside the UK or sth. similar. | They'll find a way round it. The company that is receiving the data is British or will be made British so its servers will be British and hence not outside the UK or sth. similar. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 10:30AM | 18 March 2012 10:30AM |
| Your bank details already are | Your bank details already are |
| Your dvla details will be | Your dvla details will be |
| Your NHS details soon to follow | Your NHS details soon to follow |
| ... welcome to the sod the customer culture of UK HMG / Plc | ... welcome to the sod the customer culture of UK HMG / Plc |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 11:14AM | 18 March 2012 11:14AM |
| Yet another example of the Genesis effect - Selling England By The Pound ! | Yet another example of the Genesis effect - Selling England By The Pound ! |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 11:54AM | 18 March 2012 11:54AM |
| Let's hope that a Public-Minded MP has the guts to raise these issues in the Budget Debate | Let's hope that a Public-Minded MP has the guts to raise these issues in the Budget Debate |
| (if, presumably, as seems likely, these particular continuing abuses are not dealt with). | (if, presumably, as seems likely, these particular continuing abuses are not dealt with). |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 12:29PM | 18 March 2012 12:29PM |
| India is the global leader of IT security. | India is the global leader of IT security. |
| Oh.. hang on.. | Oh.. hang on.. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 1:09PM | 18 March 2012 1:09PM |
| The actual data will likely stay in the same place, the issue here is that the network firewalls limiting where the data can be accessed from will be now configured to allow IBMs offices in india to have remote access to perform support tasks | The actual data will likely stay in the same place, the issue here is that the network firewalls limiting where the data can be accessed from will be now configured to allow IBMs offices in india to have remote access to perform support tasks |
| The risk is not some disk or hard drive being lost in transit, but that there will be persistent access for foreign nationals to access the data on 43million users of the congestion charge system and if the systems are linked the possible exposure of data from the DVLA itself which lets face it will cover most of the UKs adult population (more people have driving licenses than not!). | The risk is not some disk or hard drive being lost in transit, but that there will be persistent access for foreign nationals to access the data on 43million users of the congestion charge system and if the systems are linked the possible exposure of data from the DVLA itself which lets face it will cover most of the UKs adult population (more people have driving licenses than not!). |
| Because of the relatively much lower earnings of people in india, you could say that someone from india could gain significantly more from the leaking and selling of data, requiring them to have stronger moral fiber to resist considering it. | Because of the relatively much lower earnings of people in india, you could say that someone from india could gain significantly more from the leaking and selling of data, requiring them to have stronger moral fiber to resist considering it. |
| Perhaps the reason TfL doesnt think keeping the data restricted anymore is because the UK government are already freely sharing it with america, europe and anyone else that asks | Perhaps the reason TfL doesnt think keeping the data restricted anymore is because the UK government are already freely sharing it with america, europe and anyone else that asks |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 2:40PM | 18 March 2012 2:40PM |
| Whoa, how long will that remain secure? I suppose a hacked copy of the database will appear on Wikileaks before long, endemic corruption seems to be India's fate and it won't be long before some low-paid flunky gets a stuffed envelope in exchange for... | Whoa, how long will that remain secure? I suppose a hacked copy of the database will appear on Wikileaks before long, endemic corruption seems to be India's fate and it won't be long before some low-paid flunky gets a stuffed envelope in exchange for... |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 3:11PM | 18 March 2012 3:11PM |
| Data Protection Act? Not | Data Protection Act? Not |
| Information is gathered under penalty of imprisonment then sold to the highest bidder - simple as that | Information is gathered under penalty of imprisonment then sold to the highest bidder - simple as that |
| Shortly i will be bombarded with phone calls from Indian's for anything related to driving or Mazda vehicles perhaps gadgets for a new car just registered? | Shortly i will be bombarded with phone calls from Indian's for anything related to driving or Mazda vehicles perhaps gadgets for a new car just registered? |
| Nightmare and unfortunately we will all have to deliberately frustrate the system by giving false details due to this (and the last) totally unethical dictatorship 1% government. | Nightmare and unfortunately we will all have to deliberately frustrate the system by giving false details due to this (and the last) totally unethical dictatorship 1% government. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 4:34PM | 18 March 2012 4:34PM |
| Not only does it appear to be incredibly dangerous it also signifies the failure to develop enough domestic industry/safeguards. | Not only does it appear to be incredibly dangerous it also signifies the failure to develop enough domestic industry/safeguards. |
| Im no mercantilist and India are experts (increasingly so with IT). However, this is not something to try and make quick profits on, let alone direct efforts away from domestic enterprises being able to provide reliable and secure infrastructure for its people. | Im no mercantilist and India are experts (increasingly so with IT). However, this is not something to try and make quick profits on, let alone direct efforts away from domestic enterprises being able to provide reliable and secure infrastructure for its people. |
| Incidentally, my website gets scanned by US, Russian, Chinese, German and French search engines. Do you not find it weird for either commerce/geo politics reasons that there is not a UK spider identifying/trawling through my wares? | Incidentally, my website gets scanned by US, Russian, Chinese, German and French search engines. Do you not find it weird for either commerce/geo politics reasons that there is not a UK spider identifying/trawling through my wares? |
It has the whole "we have nuclear weapons but we dont control key components" feel about it. Policymakers appear to be blind or deliberately ignoring they longterm strategic considerations. | It has the whole "we have nuclear weapons but we dont control key components" feel about it. Policymakers appear to be blind or deliberately ignoring they longterm strategic considerations. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 7:55PM | 18 March 2012 7:55PM |
| When the Government has to outsource its own jobs this is cast iron proof that you now can't run a business in the UK because British taxes are just far too high. | When the Government has to outsource its own jobs this is cast iron proof that you now can't run a business in the UK because British taxes are just far too high. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 8:15PM | 18 March 2012 8:15PM |
| Maybe its a failure in public policy and the opposite to what you said is required. For example, many Scandinavian countries have highly capable informatics/ICT systems which satisfy both public service and private enterprise requirements. Why cant we be intelligent consumers like them? | Maybe its a failure in public policy and the opposite to what you said is required. For example, many Scandinavian countries have highly capable informatics/ICT systems which satisfy both public service and private enterprise requirements. Why cant we be intelligent consumers like them? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 18 March 2012 9:45PM | 18 March 2012 9:45PM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 18 March 2012 10:22PM | 18 March 2012 10:22PM |
| This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. | This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs. |
| 19 March 2012 11:19AM | 19 March 2012 11:19AM |
| there's no way in hell that this doesn't breach DPA. | there's no way in hell that this doesn't breach DPA. |
| Which bit does it break? | Which bit does it break? |
| I don't see that this breaks the DPA or the EU data protection directive. Compliance will be determined by clauses in the contracts between the UK organisation and any relevant Indian organisations. Without reading these contracts, it's hard to comment further, but we it's not hard to be compliant. There are also technical measure that need to be put in place, but again they aren't onerous and we should assume they are in place. | I don't see that this breaks the DPA or the EU data protection directive. Compliance will be determined by clauses in the contracts between the UK organisation and any relevant Indian organisations. Without reading these contracts, it's hard to comment further, but we it's not hard to be compliant. There are also technical measure that need to be put in place, but again they aren't onerous and we should assume they are in place. |
| The notion of physical location of data is increasingly ridiculous. When you submit data via a web page, it probably travels through three countries in as many seconds anyway. As cloud services grow, the notion will only become more out of date. | The notion of physical location of data is increasingly ridiculous. When you submit data via a web page, it probably travels through three countries in as many seconds anyway. As cloud services grow, the notion will only become more out of date. |
| What matters is how data is treated, and what rights you continue to have over it once you've given it to someone. Where the data is stored, and whether the technical management of that storage is outsourced, is as irrelevant as where the hard disk it's stored on was made. | What matters is how data is treated, and what rights you continue to have over it once you've given it to someone. Where the data is stored, and whether the technical management of that storage is outsourced, is as irrelevant as where the hard disk it's stored on was made. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 19 March 2012 1:30PM | 19 March 2012 1:30PM |
| It may or may not fall foul of the DPA, but it certainly does contradict the direct assurance given to Parliament within the last few months by minister Chris Grayling. "we have indicated very clearly to our suppliers that we will not countenance seeing existing UK employment offshored." They need to be held to that, I think. | It may or may not fall foul of the DPA, but it certainly does contradict the direct assurance given to Parliament within the last few months by minister Chris Grayling. "we have indicated very clearly to our suppliers that we will not countenance seeing existing UK employment offshored." They need to be held to that, I think. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 19 March 2012 4:20PM | 19 March 2012 4:20PM |
| Expediency dear boy! | Expediency dear boy! |
| Remember that Lord Halifax would have sold out to Hitler. It has always gone on. | Remember that Lord Halifax would have sold out to Hitler. It has always gone on. |
| Self-evisceration is a UK speciality. Look at Salmond. Look at the Welsh nats encouraging Cornwall to secede. Look at the Royal Navy before it all ends up in the breakers yard - better be quick there. | Self-evisceration is a UK speciality. Look at Salmond. Look at the Welsh nats encouraging Cornwall to secede. Look at the Royal Navy before it all ends up in the breakers yard - better be quick there. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 19 March 2012 7:40PM | 19 March 2012 7:40PM |
| Just think of the savings! | Just think of the savings! |
| Not only is it cheaper to employ people to deal with this data in India, it's also cheaper to bribe someone to access that data without authorisation! | Not only is it cheaper to employ people to deal with this data in India, it's also cheaper to bribe someone to access that data without authorisation! |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 20 March 2012 12:17AM | 20 March 2012 12:17AM |
| When the Government has to outsource its own jobs this is cast iron proof that you now can't run a business in the UK because British taxes are just far too high. | When the Government has to outsource its own jobs this is cast iron proof that you now can't run a business in the UK because British taxes are just far too high. |
Surely the government requires high taxation in order to afford to pay IBM (and others) to perform tasks that should be done by government employees? | Surely the government requires high taxation in order to afford to pay IBM (and others) to perform tasks that should be done by government employees? |
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| 20 March 2012 10:03AM | 20 March 2012 10:03AM |
| I find it incredible that at a time like this not only are the goverment continuing to give millions in aid to India but they are also clearing the way for private companies, already making huge profits, to move British jobs to India. The govenment really should be protecting British jobs. | I find it incredible that at a time like this not only are the goverment continuing to give millions in aid to India but they are also clearing the way for private companies, already making huge profits, to move British jobs to India. The govenment really should be protecting British jobs. |
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| 20 March 2012 2:25PM | 20 March 2012 2:25PM |
| Once more the good old British public is sold off cheap by TORY SCUM. | Once more the good old British public is sold off cheap by TORY SCUM. |
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| 23 March 2012 9:51PM | 23 March 2012 9:51PM |
| The commercial providers in these contracts are far from making profits: they are actually making catastrophic losses as they're forced to hire top notch contractors in the home countries to stop these contracts from grinding to a halt. The best staff and even average performers were picked off a couple of years ago, leaving outsourcers with the choice of the dregs. It's so bad in Bangalore that people barely fit for level 1 help desk are being hired for "server" support. The help disks are now so bad there tht all they can do is take your name and phone number. As finials penalties and escape clauses are built into these contracts,thy will be run at a loss with a total collapse in the service delivered. Ironically it means lots of profitable work forum contractors hired to pretend tht the mess doesn't exist. | The commercial providers in these contracts are far from making profits: they are actually making catastrophic losses as they're forced to hire top notch contractors in the home countries to stop these contracts from grinding to a halt. The best staff and even average performers were picked off a couple of years ago, leaving outsourcers with the choice of the dregs. It's so bad in Bangalore that people barely fit for level 1 help desk are being hired for "server" support. The help disks are now so bad there tht all they can do is take your name and phone number. As finials penalties and escape clauses are built into these contracts,thy will be run at a loss with a total collapse in the service delivered. Ironically it means lots of profitable work forum contractors hired to pretend tht the mess doesn't exist. |
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| Livingstone plans £7.50 traffic charge | Livingstone plans £7.50 traffic charge |
| 24 Jul 2000 | 24 Jul 2000 |
| In a key test of how cities tackle congestion, the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is planning to introduce congestion charging of up to £7.50 a day from 2002 and to widen the area in which the charging will be enforced. | In a key test of how cities tackle congestion, the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is planning to introduce congestion charging of up to £7.50 a day from 2002 and to widen the area in which the charging will be enforced. |
| 31 Jul 2002 | 31 Jul 2002 |
| Livingstone wins battle over traffic charge | Livingstone wins battle over traffic charge |
| 4 Sep 2002 | |
| Congestion charge chaos fears scorned | |
| 7 Jan 2003 | 7 Jan 2003 |
| Post Office blow to London traffic scheme | Post Office blow to London traffic scheme |
| 19 Dec 2002 | |
| Peers find no way out of congestion charge | |
| Kiley tells mayor to delay road charges | |
| 13 Dec 2001 | |
| Ken Livingstone, London's mayor, has been advised by Bob Kiley, his £250,000 a year transport commissioner, to abandon his controversial congestion charging plan, or risk defeat in the next mayoral election. | |
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| Secret move by IBM, which runs London's congestion charge, will allow access to sensitive DVLA information | Secret move by IBM, which runs London's congestion charge, will allow access to sensitive DVLA information |
| The government has secretly agreed that the "particularly sensitive" personal data of all 43 million drivers in the UK can be contracted offshore to India in a move that will allow the private firm running London's congestion zone to cut costs and make more money. | The government has secretly agreed that the "particularly sensitive" personal data of all 43 million drivers in the UK can be contracted offshore to India in a move that will allow the private firm running London's congestion zone to cut costs and make more money. |
| Data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, including addresses and registration plate numbers, along with credit card details, will now be accessible to staff outside the UK following a review by ministers. | Data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, including addresses and registration plate numbers, along with credit card details, will now be accessible to staff outside the UK following a review by ministers. |
| The prohibition was rescinded after IBM, which runs the congestion charge zone for Transport for London (TfL), lobbied for a change. The company has been repeatedly fined since it took over the contract from Capita in 2009, making the £60m deal less profitable than it had hoped. | The prohibition was rescinded after IBM, which runs the congestion charge zone for Transport for London (TfL), lobbied for a change. The company has been repeatedly fined since it took over the contract from Capita in 2009, making the £60m deal less profitable than it had hoped. |
| However the move to relax the rules around the sensitive data, which has not been publicly announced, raises concerns in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics about the increased risk of fraud. | However the move to relax the rules around the sensitive data, which has not been publicly announced, raises concerns in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics about the increased risk of fraud. |
| It is understood that a risk assessment carried out within IBM has also identified a potential threat to London's reputation should the changes lessen the ability of staff to deal with problems in the congestion zone IT systems. It also warned of the risk to the security of sensitive data. | It is understood that a risk assessment carried out within IBM has also identified a potential threat to London's reputation should the changes lessen the ability of staff to deal with problems in the congestion zone IT systems. It also warned of the risk to the security of sensitive data. |
| The move also appears to contradict ministers' recent insistence that they would resist any work on government contracts going abroad. | The move also appears to contradict ministers' recent insistence that they would resist any work on government contracts going abroad. |
| The transition allowing staff abroad access to the data is expected to be completed by 18 May. An internal email sent by IBM's commercial manager earlier this month, and seen by the Observer, says: "Since go live, TfL has directed that we retain within the UK certain support roles with access to data that they considered particularly sensitive… TfL has recently completed a risk assessment with the DVLA and the Department for Transport and has concluded that they no longer require this additional level of control… As a result we have commenced a transition exercise to manage the changes to our support organisation over the next three months." | The transition allowing staff abroad access to the data is expected to be completed by 18 May. An internal email sent by IBM's commercial manager earlier this month, and seen by the Observer, says: "Since go live, TfL has directed that we retain within the UK certain support roles with access to data that they considered particularly sensitive… TfL has recently completed a risk assessment with the DVLA and the Department for Transport and has concluded that they no longer require this additional level of control… As a result we have commenced a transition exercise to manage the changes to our support organisation over the next three months." |
| Labour MP John McDonnell said he feared the change would cost British jobs. "Despite all past promises from the government, the decision to offshore this sensitive information database will not only cost jobs but open up vast opportunities for fraud. Offshoring the congestion charge operation just as we host the Olympics also risks making Britain the laughing stock of the world as the new system inevitably experiences teething problems." | Labour MP John McDonnell said he feared the change would cost British jobs. "Despite all past promises from the government, the decision to offshore this sensitive information database will not only cost jobs but open up vast opportunities for fraud. Offshoring the congestion charge operation just as we host the Olympics also risks making Britain the laughing stock of the world as the new system inevitably experiences teething problems." |
| The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said it was concerned that the decision had come just as the government was consulting over whether to close 39 DVLA offices to centralise processes in Swansea. | The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said it was concerned that the decision had come just as the government was consulting over whether to close 39 DVLA offices to centralise processes in Swansea. |
| Richard Simcox, from the PCS, said: "It appears neither IBM nor DVLA were planning to tell anyone about it. The government should call an immediate halt to the DVLA's plans and ministers should explain to MPs and the public exactly what has happened and what are the implications." | Richard Simcox, from the PCS, said: "It appears neither IBM nor DVLA were planning to tell anyone about it. The government should call an immediate halt to the DVLA's plans and ministers should explain to MPs and the public exactly what has happened and what are the implications." |
| A DVLA spokesperson said: "All IT systems must be managed to the same standard as if they were in the UK. We will ensure that all appropriate controls for data protection are in place." | A DVLA spokesperson said: "All IT systems must be managed to the same standard as if they were in the UK. We will ensure that all appropriate controls for data protection are in place." |
| • This article was amended on 18 March 2012 to correct references to birth dates being stored offshore | • This article was amended on 18 March 2012 to correct references to birth dates being stored offshore |