2.23 Linking data sets is central to the transparency agenda. While it can be expected to generate benefits, it might also mean that personal information is disclosed without consent. The Government commissioned a review to consider the compatibility of transparency and privacy.10 The review made 14 recommendations, for example, about governance processes and research into anonymisation techniques. The Government has not yet responded to the review.
2.24 Some existing releases, such as reoffending data in criminal justice and GP prescribing data by practice, are based on individual-level data sets. For these releases, the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health respectively have carried out privacy impact assessments to identify and manage risks. Published data has been aggregated to protect anonymity by banding data and so protecting individuals' identities.