Dutch to Open Electronic Files on Children

[Moloch]

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - The Dutch government plans to open an electronic file on every child at birth as a tool to spot and protect the troubled kids of the future.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, all citizens will be tracked from cradle to grave in a single database — including health, education, family and police records — the health ministry said Tuesday.

As a privacy safeguard, no single person or agency will be able to access all contents of a file. But organizations can raise "red flags" in the dossier to caution other agencies about problems, ministry spokesman Jan Brouwer said.

The intention is to protect troubled children, Brouwer said. Until now, schools and police have been unable to communicate with each other about truancy records and criminality, which are often linked.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050913/ap_on_re_eu/netherlands_child_files

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. I'm not sure if I like that

It's a good idea, but it's also a big privacy issue...

[dutchdemocrat]

2. hmm...

I find it a bit Orwellian and am not so sure I am all that happy that my children are going to be catalogued for life - with youthful disgressions being barcoded on them.

Holland is packed and over-organised in so many ways. I miss the laissez-faire life of Caribbean crusing (sailboat) where chaos reigned - hand in hand - with a high level of privacy and freedom.

Hmm...

[Bassic]

3. Big Brother is watching, MUCH!

:banghead:

[Robb]

4. Fascinating

If anyone could do it well (privacy-wise) it'd be the Dutch. :shrug:

[teknomanzer]

5. Bah! Whatever....

Being Dutch does not make one a saint.

[noonwitch]

10. Isn't the Netherlands the source of a lot of internet kiddie porn?

I'm not sure this is a good idea.

[wordout]

6. won't someone think of the children?

"As a privacy safeguard, no single person or agency will be able to access all contents of a file"

So.. only married people can access all the contents of a file? Or is their requirement such that 'two or more people (or agencies)' must be present to view all the files?

[genieroze]

7. Don't like the sound of this.

"Every child will get a Citizens Service Number, making it easier to keep track of children with problems even when their families move, said Secretary of Health Clemence Ross" Look out for big bro. Is this crap going to follow them into adulthood and label them for the rest of their lives?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

8. And if history is any guide... as the Dutch go

so will go the world.

[Mizmoon]

9. between this an the liberal use of euthanasia

I'm starting to wonder about the Dutch ...

[pop goes the weasel]

11. Very Dutch

The Dutch are meticulous record-keepers. Their population data has always been astoundingly complete.