The electoral roll is probably not a good example to use. It is illegal
to publish the electoral role in this country in a searchable format which
would include the web. Whilst a paper copy of the entire roll must be made
accessible to the public in various locations eg. libraries and to various
bodies it is presented in a format which is not easily searchable. The
legal obligation on EROs to supply the roll to any party on payment of a
prescribed fee (as has been the case in the past) is currently suspended.
This is in the wake of the Robertson case where an individual successfully
challenged his local authority over this practice of transferring personal
information collected for the electoral register to commercial companies
who have bought the roll and then use it for direct marketing purposes.
Derek Ford
<derek.ford@RHONDDA-CYNON-TA To:
FF.GOV.UK> cc:
Sent by: This list is for Subject: Public Documents
those interested in Data
Protection issues
<[log in to unmask]
.UK>
17/01/2002 11:23
Please respond to Derek Ford
Is it legal to put public documents on the internet?
Could we put our electoral register (public document) on the internet and
make it searchable?
Thoughts from others appreciated.
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