Madness, I have to prove I can legally work

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by CoolGirl

We're raking it in.

Yeah right, you've been listening to winky again haven't you?

[Grant66]

Where on earth are people getting the idea that the Government sells personal data?! Simply not true.

Is the DVLA not a government agency then?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6440803.ece

Are we to believe that the DVLA is allowed to sell information but the rest of the government agencies and department don't?

It seems the police are at it as well
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...erties-idcards

Originally Posted by gajjii

Is the DVLA not a government agency then?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6440803.ece

Are we to believe that the DVLA is allowed to sell information but the rest of the government agencies and department don't?

It seems the police are at it as well
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...erties-idcards

I wouldn't take any of this at face value - I'm sure you'll agree that there are legitimate reasons for passing on or allowing access to information, such as imposing penalties for breaches of law (parking and insurance offences included). What the articles you cite fail to take into account are the on-costs that the public would effectively foot if every single request was dealt with individually by a public servant - it's not 'selling', it's effectively outsourcing the data search to whoever needs the information.

However, what is implied elsewhere in this thread is that personal data is 'sold' to anyone with a chequebook - I maintain that's not the case. Nor is the above a perfect system in a world of self-regulation.

The Environment Agency (a quango) sells people's data, but only after getting permission from those people.

Originally Posted by embee

I'm self employed and can't be ar$ed to dig out my birth certificate to prove to myself I was born. Will the Stasi be after me?

Same here!

[Sir Trev]

If you have a birth certificate, driving licence and utility bills you can apply for a passport. So how come producing all that is less than a passport???? OK the passport agency checks them all before issuing a passport but come on!!

Oddly I've not been asked this one, despite working for an anally retarded US company that loves to comply with such rubbish. I'm going to ignore such requests until nagged then point out my MoD security clearance would not have been granted if I was an illegal...

[Littlepeahead]

Frankly I'm surprised I'm allowed to work in English cricket anymore as looking at the team and management, I thought you were required to have been born and raised in South Africa before they'd let anywhere near Lord's these days.

Funny how the item is a 'pass port' yet they expext you to have one even if you don't plan to travel anywhere through a port at all.