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I think at present that citizens interacting with government services online is still relatively new, and they obviously havn't fully thought through the potent

by motters 14y ago

I think at present that citizens interacting with government services online is still relatively new, and they obviously havn't fully thought through the potential national security implications of using things such as Google Analytics and outsourced helpdesks.

Nursie 14y ago
I've been using UK government services online for several years now. I'm not sure if it's always been the way it is now, I never bothered to look at the loaded artifacts and page source for the older sites, but I get the impression that it wasn't like this before. There was a big fanfare a few months back about how gov.uk was modern, useful, using industry best practices, open source tech and was just generally awesome and cool. I think what's happened is that they've either outsourced to or hired in a bunch of hip, trendy web developers s who had no real comprehension of data protection. As someone with an interest in computer security, and who has in the past lived with data protection consultants, this disturbs me. Anyone know which minister or ministry in the UK government is ultimately responsible for the UK government electronic data presence? Or who I might approach about these Data Protection concerns?
- grabeh 14y ago
  I would contact the ICO in the first instance. It would be the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that would deal with internet-related issues generally, then there is of course your local MP. I must admit to being a little surprised that they are using Google Analytics plus the site doesn't have a privacy policy either. It seems a little bizarre to have a cookie policy but not one detailing usage of user information generally.
  - Nursie 14y ago
    Ah yes, the ICO. I'll get in touch with them first, if only because they're the most likely to actually respond to communication!
    - summerdown2 14y ago
      I wouldn't hold your breath. They've never replied to me on any of the times I've filled in a complaint form.
- switch007 14y ago
  Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, to whom the Government Digital Service in-part report (the team responsible for gov.uk). See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Digital_Service http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Digital_Service
  - Nursie 14y ago
    Cool, thanks, found the GDS page but hadn't managed to trace it up the chain.
- DanBC 14y ago
  Someone on the UKCrypto mailing list; and if it's not them they'll know who it is. They may have already spoken about it. I guess they have a searchable archive somewhere. (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/ukcrypto http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/ukcrypto)

by motters 14y ago

Nursie 14y ago

I've been using UK government services online for several years now. I'm not sure if it's always been the way it is now, I never bothered to look at the loaded artifacts and page source for the older sites, but I get the impression that it wasn't like this before. There was a big fanfare a few months back about how gov.uk was modern, useful, using industry best practices, open source tech and was just generally awesome and cool. I think what's happened is that they've either outsourced to or hired in a bunch of hip, trendy web developers s who had no real comprehension of data protection. As someone with an interest in computer security, and who has in the past lived with data protection consultants, this disturbs me. Anyone know which minister or ministry in the UK government is ultimately responsible for the UK government electronic data presence? Or who I might approach about these Data Protection concerns?

grabeh 14y ago
I would contact the ICO in the first instance. It would be the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that would deal with internet-related issues generally, then there is of course your local MP. I must admit to being a little surprised that they are using Google Analytics plus the site doesn't have a privacy policy either. It seems a little bizarre to have a cookie policy but not one detailing usage of user information generally.
- Nursie 14y ago
  Ah yes, the ICO. I'll get in touch with them first, if only because they're the most likely to actually respond to communication!
  - summerdown2 14y ago
    I wouldn't hold your breath. They've never replied to me on any of the times I've filled in a complaint form.
switch007 14y ago
Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, to whom the Government Digital Service in-part report (the team responsible for gov.uk). See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Digital_Service http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Digital_Service
- Nursie 14y ago
  Cool, thanks, found the GDS page but hadn't managed to trace it up the chain.
DanBC 14y ago
Someone on the UKCrypto mailing list; and if it's not them they'll know who it is. They may have already spoken about it. I guess they have a searchable archive somewhere. (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/ukcrypto http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/ukcrypto)