Your logic is impeccable, Charles, but it does not take into account the unique position of the Church of England. As the Established Church, events which take place in it (and the records made of them) are public, not private, ones. That being said, diocesan record offices (i.e. county archives) normally restrict the wholesale, widespread *publication* (via the internet etc.) of images or transcripts of parish registers which may contain information about the living. Caroline > -----Original Message----- > From: kent-eng-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:kent-eng- > bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Charles Henrywood > Sent: 30 September 2013 11:44 > To: kent-eng@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [KENT-ENG] Parish Register Search is Breaking the Law !!! > > Just a thought. I wonder if the "in the public domain" argument might apply. > Recording births, marriages and deaths is a legal requirement with laws > setting out the information required and penalties for failure to comply. > Within limits, the information provided is a matter of public record. > Baptisms, on the other hand, are a matter of personal choice and, as such, > might well fall into the field of data protection. Unrestricted access to a > baptism register with entries relating to living individuals would possibly be in > breach of that Act. > Charles > charles.henrywood@btinternet.com > (FH interests include Honeywood and Wanmer)