Off Topic How our NHS/GP personal data is soon to be used (opt out ASAP)

A bit of housekeeping:

I don't think this thread should be bunched in with the politics thread as it's not political. It's simply about our data and how to opt out. I kindly ask the mods to consider this. Also, I'm not an anti-vaxxer, covid denying conspiracist, like you've had to deal with recently! This is purely about our data.

Simply watch this video, as it explains better than I can. From a very credible source who answers to a watchdog.

Summary: the NHS is lining up a way to make big profits by selling our data. The official literature says it's for research etc. However, our data will be sold to private companies, including big foreign corporations and also some organisations we won't even be able to know about. This includes some of our most private data.

 

Also don’t use credit/debit cards, your phone, the internet (even with VPN), or go shopping as all that data is shared and sold as well. Don’t go out because you will be on CCTV. The marketing industry, which underpins all the industries which sell anything whether physical or notional, is the biggest and best funded social experiment imaginable. All 7 billion of us are enrolled in the trial, without our knowledge.

Data is a commodity. My only problem with this is that data generated from me is being sold and I’m not getting any of the dosh. But medical data might speed up drug discovery and development, certainly improve safety and generate a lot more actionable knowledge about lifestyle and health.

Of course individuals should respond to these developments as they see fit. From a personal perspective I’m happy to acknowledge the situation and get on with stuff. Life’s too short etc, you can develop an acute sense of paranoia if you focus too much on this kind of stuff - possibly justified, but is it worth it?

The video is from Double Down News which of course has a very distinct political bias, which it doesn’t hide, but which colours the argument. He doesn’t work for a watchdog, he works for a single issue pressure group, medConfidential. No criticism, fair enough. Mr Booth seems more comfortable with a government or university having his data than a corporation. I should imagine the public sector could **** you over just as effectively as the private sector, if it wanted to. Oh, and of course the vast majority of GPs are private sector, self employed, so capitalists already have our personal and sensitive data. Are they going to use it to blackmail us?

I think this should be on the politics thread, just my opinion.

 

If you believe in the content of that video, but continue to use an Apple/Android/other smart phone, I find it hard to take you seriously.

 

The main concern to me would be who profits from the sale of the data. If all the proceeds went back to the NHS - on top of current government funding commitments - I'd be happy enough. This won't be the case under the current government, of course.

 

This. (But in a far clearer way than I could ever have written)

 

1. I am ...Going to leave this on its own thread, as I believe it deserves to be debated separately.
2. This is nothing new, all our private details are already out there, being sold over and over again, as Raving implies

2. I agree with Stan on this, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages on this. We need the information on the health demographics to plan for the future and for drug design....but it is a very saleable commodity...and who is going to benifit. Under this government fat cat profiteers...but it does not need to happen like that.

When I was researching we obtained blood samples from a database of Norwegian children born in a certain year, we were able to test all the blood to see if we could predict whicch children would become/were autistic. The results were equivocal....and still under investigation...but imagine if you could tell just after birth if your child had a disorder or not...what early interventions could happen. For those samples we had to go through a strict ethical review and we paid shipping costs. No fat cat profit, but endless possible rewards.

Stroller is right too, would it not be nice if any profit came back to the NHS, but it wont.

So they can have my data.... but it must be an individual decision...but I really wonder how long anybodies data will remain their own

 

With respect Beth, could you change point 1 to YOU think it deserves to be debated separately.
I personally agree with Stan and think it would be more suited on the Politics thread.

Just a small point of course.

 

Its mainly about cluttering up the board for me. This is an interesting topic, and I contribute a lot to non football threads, but this is a football forum and it’s a bit dispiriting to see lots of off topic stuff at the top of the page when you log on. But, as you say, not really important.

 

With respect, I think you and others have overlooked this. Of course, business and organisations are continuously trying to mine us for data. But the question is, which data? The whole situation is a nightmare and we shouldn't normalise how much we're mined for data, nor necessarily be ok with it. However, there is a difference between someone selling the data of a few of your online habits and selling your medical profile and personal or intimate details to a foreign body.

Regarding Double Down News, of course it is a news source from people with political ideas generally labelled as "left" ideologies. However, it answers to a really comprehensive regulator. They very rigorously fact check. If the information is valid and useful, it's valid and useful. The speaker is a guest on the channel.

I think you are almost certainly right that the revenue raised will not go to a cause that benefits all of us.

As above, in reply to someone else, we are of course being targetting for the mining of data continuously. As above, the question is, which data?

Regarding your valid input about the benefits and disadvantages, I would say this: I'm happy if I can help the NHS research and improve its services. Firstly, why can't we instead opt in? This could be done simply when we register for a GP or go for appointments at hospitals.

If that is not possible, why can't we opt out of it being shared with anyone apart from for legitimate research that directly benefits the NHS. What if someone, like yourself, wants to contribute to genuine research but doesn't want it going to unknown private corporations? We should be able to differentiate and choose more specifically because they are two seperate things.

The thing that is worrying about this is that it is mainly hidden from the literature. When you go online to opt out on the official NHS portal, it doesn't tell you about the sale to private, profit making companies. It's not transparent.

I say this with respect and I respect your opinion. I'm not annoyed at you but I get annoyed with the fact that so much these days is deemed political when it is not. Not everything that affects our lives is political. Because, not everything is determined by politics. And, after all, the NHS is not a political organisation.

I believe this framing of everything social as political is by design. Not your design. But I believe, for the sake of diluting arguments about real issues that matter to people, social issues are lumped in the "political" catagory. And when people raise those issues publicly, people stifle their argument by simply saying "this is your political view." This means that a very valid concern over an issue that might be causing real suffering is quickly reduced to merely an opinion or slant, when it is often so much more than that.

With the issue I address in this thread, this is about data and how companies and organisations can potentially mishandle our data. I wouldn't mind if it was lumped in with some kind of British modern life / society thread, but there isn't one.

 

I’m in the middle of a days tattooing so can’t answer fully, however I stick to my point and suggest it should go on the Politics thread.
Fortunately for yourself, Beth thinks it deserves its own thread so it’s got it’s own thread…..not really gonna effect my day to be honest.
On the actual subject, again being totally honest, none of it bothers me right now so really can’t comment much.

 

Fair play. As I said, I don't need it to have it's own thread. I'm just quite adamant it shouldn't be lumped in with politics. But we agree to disagree.

 

Great point SB. It really is a footie forum for devoted Hoops fans after all. The off-topic threads seem to be the ones that cause the most angst and need to be minimal but definitely not eliminated (just my opinion). Coronavirus, politics and religion/ off-topic thread can have their own areas for adult debate. But I’d like/prefer to focus on the footie.

Perhaps we could open up a thread to discuss this important topic. Oh … hang on!!



… and just took a look at the QPR forum and the top 8 threads were nothing to do with football or QPR!!!
Point proved I think.

 

Is there that much football to actually talk about at the moment

 

To be honest, I'd be fine with making the forum football only. And perhaps with one thread called off-topic for everything else.

 

Was it any different when we had the successful end to last season? Or through the Euros? Or through the transfer season?
Still the rhetoric, insults and disagreements continued in the ‘off-topic’ forums Kiwi.

 

only so much can be said about formations etc
i like the off topic stuff
even ghoops stuff
would be very quiet on here without it
very easy to ignore it

 

But are we going to beat Milwall?

 

Have to agree with Kiwi.

Find some of the off-topic threads totally pointless ( word thread ) but some are very interesting, informative, amusing or entertaining.

It's slightly disconcerting to sometimes see so many off-topic themes on the board at one time but they can also easily be ignored if you are not interested in them. Just scroll past.

Maybe people should actually try to create more original posts about The Hoops?

But then, as stated above, apart from fabulous match threads, the transfer rumour thread and the new stadium thread....just how many more topics can actually be written before they just regurgitate the same material but on different threads?

I myself created a thread about Qpr nostalgia not that long ago that was well received for a fortnight and then died a death as nobody contributed.

Attracting some new posters to the board may help but I'm sure this has been discussed several times to no avail.

Although we should concentrate primarily on all-things Rrrr'sssss I really enjoy the all-encompassing forum and members we have here. Long may it continue.

 

Done... It keeps this debate in one place and not mixed up with asylum seekers, and MPs doing naughty things posts.


Once football starts there will be a lot more stickies...so these off season, off topic discussions will draft down.

Btw I was told thatour wonderful founder Brixton was keen on these off topic word association/ music threads as it made us one of the biggest groups on here..

We still are

 

Whats “done” Beth, I’m confused ?