NO2ID

http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/news_ ... +minefield

Midata minefield

7 March 2012

Few dispute Midata's intentions, but with issues such as security, liability and practical delivery far from sorted, giving consumers access to their data will be no walk in the park. Kathy Oxtoby reports.

...

However, some also have concerns. Consumer Focus, like Which?, supports the initiative's aims, but says it is unclear how Midata will work in practice - for example, how customers will keep control of their data and how it will be used and shared. Another concern is that data will be lost, leaked, misused or stolen. Vulnerable individuals must be protected, and consideration given to the different consent models required for these customers, says Zoe McLeod, head of smart and sustainable energy markets at Consumer Focus.

Liability is also an issue. "In a Midata world, customers could effectively become their own data managers. What happens, for example, if moving information on their bank account results in money being stolen? Who is liable?" McLeod asks.

Cochrane is concerned that if organisations have access to someone's energy data, their banking information and shopping habits, this creates a "full picture of their life". She says privacy protection should be in place to prevent access from intermediary companies. BIS says the government will not be storing people's information in a "central information bank" or have access to it. "This is personal information released to the customer for the use of the customer," a spokesperson says.

...

Kathy Oxtoby is a freelance journalist. This article first appeared in Utility Week's print edition of 2 March 2012.

I do, I reckon it's a way for the government to have us build our own version of the NIR so they can then come along and dip in to it with the excuse that "well it's already there and it's not actually costing anything is it?, it would be silly not to use it as it's all standardised now we just need to tweak the legislation a little so we don't need the owners permission to access it"


precisely my point, plus it's all wrapped up in a nice easy standard interchange format for easy access, what government could resist such a juicy target.

we can't trust MP's to manage their own drinks bill, who seriously thinks they will keep their hands off this once it's widely adopted