But why do you need to know?

Last night I attended the CiG seminar Data Protection - is it really possible or just a pipe-dream?  Listening to Jonathan Holbrook, the Head of Data Protection Practice Private Sector at the Information Commissioner's Office and Sunny Bath, the Data Protection Officer at Euromoney Institutional Investor, the reality of just how much information X or Y company may hold on me began to hit home.

The question highlighted was not 'how did X government department lose CDs holding 1000s of individuals details?' but 'why did they have/gather/need those details in the first place'?  Today's surveillance society not only includes the existence of CCTV cameras but also the reality that many companies hold masses of information on each of us.  For example, what is my supermarket loyalty card tracking - and what do they do with that information?  Why does London Transport need to know my every move, via the data gathered on my Oyster card?

Some may argue that tracking individuals' information is essential for marketing and security reasons, but wouldn't it be nice to know who was building an information footprint of our daily life, and why. Sunny Bath suggested we send a subject access request to any company whom we think may hold information on us.

Jonathan also highlighted the potential dangers of sharing information on social networking sites, particularly for children, emphasising the need for guidance on safe usage of these sites.

It would appear that our digital (and non-digital) footprints are well and truly following us.  I will certainly be interested to further investigate exactly who is following me, how and why...