Subject: 100 year rule is daft
From: Pamela Tue 12 Feb 2008 11:27
I have always believed that census returns should be available after 80 years instead of 100 years, although 70 years is pushing it a bit. This would make a huge difference to most researchers, and more importantly would enable people who know little about their early background to have at least a sporting chance of finding out about themselves! My father would have loved to know where he was in 1921, but alas it's too late now. That is very unfair. The excuse of 'privacy' is a poor one, especially as there is access to sensitive information widely available on living individuals, which is often sold on. Where is the privacy there? We don't have any privacy now, so why are we worrying about the privacy of the people who lived 80 years ago? And honestly, do you think anyone over the age of 80 is going to worry about it? I don't think so, as most people of that age are keen to find out a few answers before they depart this mortal coil.
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