Scottish website reveals names of thousands of adopted children

09/08/2023 | The Guardian

The Scottish government's genealogy website, Scotland's People, has released records of adoptions dating back over a century, including the first names and new surnames of thousands of adopted children. Concerns have been raised about potential breaches of privacy, with one mother discovering her child's details on the site. She feared that the availability of the information could allow people to track down adopted children by looking up their new surnames. The National Records of Scotland, which operates the website, has removed the details of the records and informed the Information Commissioner's Office.

UPDATE: Holyrood reveals that Scottish Conservative MSP Roz McCall has now written to Cabinet Secretary for Constitution and External Affairs Angus Robertson, whose ministerial responsibilities include NRS, to investigate the publication by Scotland’s People.

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