Whether it be for online shopping, using public services, managing our personal finances or at work, digital information is important to all of us in living our lives in our digital world. In an increasingly challenging environment that is constantly attacked by spam email, worms and viruses, security of our own personal information demands ever more vigilance. We want to know that our information is safe, secure and protected from misuse. Exactly how is it being used? How can we be sure it is being used lawfully? Who holds our information and to what end? And what impact is the sharing of personal information having on our private lives?

A data-sharing review, set up by the Prime Minister in 2007 to examine the use of information in the public and private sectors, the operation of the Data …