Data protection watchdog issued warning over public services card last year

The Data Protection Commissioner warned the Department of Social Protection last year over the broadening scope of the public services card (PSC).

A letter from Helen Dixon to Niamh O’Donoghue, former secretary general of the Department, has been released following a Freedom of Information request by The Irish Times, which was initially refused.

The email, dated 19 August 2016, sets out Ms Dixon’s concern that the PSC could expand in scope and become “a form of national ID card”.

She expressed concern that this would lead to “heightened risk in terms of the protections provided to the data privacy rights of individuals” and that an “alternative legislative framework” outside of social welfare legislation had been used to extend the system’s scope.

Ms Dixon said there was a “risk of functional creep, intentionally or otherwise” which would make the PSC into “a form of national ID card”, which would represent a “considerable leap in purpose”.

She added: “In our view, expanding the use of the PPSN and PSC in the manner I have outlined would likely increase the exposure of the PPSN system to heightened risk in terms of the protections provided to the data privacy rights of individuals.”

Under the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017, restrictions on the use of the PSC as a form of ID will be lifted.