National ID Card Info To Leak To Business
National ID Card Info To Leak To Business
Month Date, 2006:It is being widely reported that supermarket chains - among others - will be given access to data held on the proposed $1-billon Australian health smartcard.
In a move that looks much like 'getting the bad news out early' leaked reports that data held on the proposed - optional - Australian health smartcard will be made available to commercial entities are being widely reported.
According documentation published by the minister responsible, Senator Joe Hockey, "The health and social services access card uses smart card technology to improve the access to-and delivery of-health and social services benefits for Australians. It replaces 17 health and social services cards, including the Medicare card, health care cards and veteran cards."
Privacy is also highlighted in the documentation, "Information held on the access card will be subject to strict protections and will only be accessible by authorised people. We will continue to work with the Federal Privacy Commissioner and consult with stakeholders in developing the access card."
Apparently, Hockey is now qualifying the class of 'authorised people' as check-out attendants at Coles, "It is no good if Coles and Woolies can't access the card to find out whether you are entitled to emergency assistance."
Despite the 'down home' language used here, the fact remains that enabling commercial third-parties to access what is being sold as a health and social services card represents a massive concern.