14 DAY TRIAL // The UK government has a problem: every part of it, every department, controls a different database, and the data sharing policy between departments isn't exactly the best. And since there's never a complete picture of what is taking place, problems can sneak in and only come to light after they've inflicted a fair bit of damage.
To improve inter-department data sharing and to allow for better problem prevention, the cabinet's data sharing policy team has proposed that databases be merged.
And by “databases” they meant all the databases of the government departments, emergency services, local authorities, and even schools.
The information would then be possible to manage and oversee like in any other ”big data” conglomerate. Money savings would be a side benefit, of £37 billion ($62 / €46 billion), as a lot less error and fraud would take place.
The UK Government will spend some time finding out how the people feel about this. No doubt there will be some who will oppose the move because it is an affront to “privacy,” but such people always will exist, and the benefits actually outweigh the disadvantages.
That said, hackers always do have an easier time rifling through a single data center once they slip through the code cracks, but at this stage it sounds like the poor efficiency of the government is doing just as much damage, if not more, all by itself.