Here in the UK, it seems as far as genealogy is concerned, not to make a great deal of difference as the information gathered is not 'published' - that is, not offered freely for sale on the open market for profit. The passing of basic data from one person to another under the heading of personal research is permitted. Companies and large organisations that use personal information for business purposes are required to be licensed because they 'publish'; indeed some profit entirely by the selling of this material. I understand that all the Local History Societies have been told they do not need to be licensed so long as all the information they gather is held on a maximum of two computers and is again, not 'published'. I have also checked with three different Archive/Record Offices and not one considers this to be a problem or an issue. Whether the law dictates or not, I would like to think we are all sensitive enough to consider asking permission of the living before passing basic details about them to third parties, but even so, it is worth considering that there is likely to be far more sensitive information held about us all on computer somewhere, than the average genealogist would be able to gather in their researches!! Technically, if you take a photograph of any High Street anywhere in the UK you are legally not permitted to 'publish' that photo without first asking permission of everyone within shot - realistically this does not happen and as far as is known, no prosecution has ever been brought. I am told that here in the UK you are still permitted to buy copies of BMD certificates for anyone living or dead. It is for this reason that it is no longer possible to apply for a driving license or passport on production of a birth certificate as was so graphically illustrated in the film "Day of the Jackal" !!!! Of course if anyone knows anything different........................... Moya ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris & Caroline To: HAMPSHIRE-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 11:15 PM Subject: Re: [HantsLife] Aaustralian subscribers/change in law Not 100% sure but this is the same in the UK as it comes under the Data Protection Act But I expect someone out there will be able to clarify the matter Chris and Caroline ----- Original Message ----- From: "Avenue Emus" <ave_emus@seol.net.au> To: <HAMPSHIRE-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 11:01 PM Subject: Re: [HantsLife] Aaustralian subscribers/change in law Hi Moya and list, Just to confirm, as you suggested, that this is not a hoax, and the privacy laws have changed. I do not know exactly how it effects genealogists, but I do know that I will be very careful what I publish, or even pass on to other researchers, without first getting legal advise. With regards to BDM certificates, as far as I know, there is a cut off period for obtaining certificates in most states without identification, eg 70 years for some. After that you need to provide ID, and in some cases, prove that you are related. Doesn't stop you researching, but does make you stop and think before publishing. Cheers Julie in Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: "marp" <marp@ntlworld.com> To: <HAMPSHIRE-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 8:39 PM Subject: Re: [HantsLife] Aaustralian subscribers/change in law > Presumably this means you are not permitted copies of any Australian birth, marriage or death certificates or any Parish records more recently that the 1880's just in case the person in question is still alive!!! > > This sounds identical to the Canadian Genealogy List Hoax that I understand was doing the rounds about 4 years age - I might be wrong, but perhaps someone in Australia in the know could confirm or deny this for us!! > > Moya Page (nee Banting) > researching BANTING and PERREN in Hampshire > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: historyresearch > To: HAMPSHIRE-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 12:23 PM > Subject: [HantsLife] Aaustralian subscribers/change in law > > > Hello Hampshire Listers, > > I have been given permission to copy this from a Surrey Rootsweb contributer > to this list. > > Hi, all > > I've recently returned from my local Genealogy society meeting where it > was announced that it is now illegal under Australian Federal Privacy > legislation to publish any personal information for any living person, > unless you have their specific written permission. > > If you are in Australia, please make sure that you supress all > information on living people if you post your tree anywhere. > > I don't know whether you are even allowed to publish names - better > not, just to be on the safe side. > > Regards > > Tony Rolfe - BURRILL LAKE, Australia > Researching: > ROLFE (ROLPH), BIRD, EDWARDS, HILLIARD (HILYARD), ROYCE > and > RUSSELL in Essex and Surrey > STEAD, DRABBLE, CADMAN, HEADLEY in Yorkshire and Derbyshire > CAREY in Manchester and Ireland > > The contributer has also told me: > > "I've e-mailed the Privacy Commissioner asking for clarification on a few > points. (Can we publish names, how old must someone be before we > can assume they are dead, can we publish full details under password > protection and how does this apply to my site which is on a computer > physically located in the USA and most of the living people are in > England?)" > > Yours > Vicki Turner > > > > ==== HAMPSHIRE-LIFE Mailing List ==== > Visit Where your ancestors lived..... > SOUTHERN LIFE(UK) > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~villages > AND VI > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > ==== HAMPSHIRE-LIFE Mailing List ==== > Visit Where your ancestors lived..... > SOUTHERN LIFE(UK) > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~villages > AND VI > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 ==== HAMPSHIRE-LIFE Mailing List ==== Visit Where your ancestors lived..... SOUTHERN LIFE(UK) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~villages AND VI ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 --- All of our Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. And attachments are also scanned before being added. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.465 / Virus Database: 263 - Release Date: 25/03/2003 ==== HAMPSHIRE-LIFE Mailing List ==== Chris and Caroline Hayles, Eastleigh, Hampshire List Administrators: HAMPSHIRE-LIFE-L@rootsweb.com Home of SOUTHERN LIFE(UK) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~villages EMAIL: chris@chayles.freeserve.co.uk FAMILY WEBSITE: http://www.chayles.freeserve.co.uk Over 1,600 villages in HAMPSHIRE, BERKSHIRE, DORSET ISLE OF WIGHT, SURREY, WEST SUSSEX,and WILTSHIRE village history,parish church history, village photographs, and other useful information for genealogy. Lots of links to other useful sites ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237