October Coffee & Cake Briefing
Carruthers and Jackson
help people harness data to think and then do, differently.
Find this month’s top data stories that you might have missed below.
The UK government has introduced a new data bill to parliament to cut red tape for businesses and public service organisations like the NHS, which it claims could add ￡10bn to the economy over the next decade. The ‘Data Use and Access’ bill plans to make data sharing easier and as part of this, it will expand open banking and smart data schemes that allow businesses and consumers to securely share their data with authorised third parties.
11,500 people have signed a petition?against the unlicensed use of creative works for AI training. The petition comes at a time when lawmakers are considering how to respond to data being scraped for GenAI development.
The Internet Archive, one of the web’s largest repositories of information, has been hacked, resulting in a leak of 31 million people’s user data. Data implicated in the leak is believed to include user names, email addresses, encrypted passwords and timestamp data for previous password changes.?
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said it is “extremely disappointed” after failing to have a ￡750,000 fine reduced over last year’s major data breach. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the fine was “regrettable” given the PSNI’s budget problems. The breach involved accidentally releasing some personal details on all 9,400 officers and staff in August last year.
The genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, is facing an uncertain future after a drop in share prices, a recent board resignation and a data breach last year that affected nearly seven million customers.
The turmoil has raised questions about what might happen to the genetic data of the company’s roughly 15 million customers.
The company has said that it is committed to customer privacy, but people who have submitted tests to discover ancestry lines or for health care research can potentially leave their information vulnerable to threat actors.
Customers provide the company with a saliva sample for analysis of ancestry, family traits and potential health risks. Eighty percent of people also agree to have their genetic data used for research on diseases, such as Parkinson’s and lupus, according to 23andMe.
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Prima Group, a Liverpool housing association, have joined forces on a project that integrates social care housing data into NHS records to improve health outcomes.
The pilot, which is expected to last until 2025, securely integrates housing data, encompassing living conditions, accessibility and locality, into NHS health records, with the aim of improving the quality of support services given to tenants.
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By doing so, patterns linking social housing conditions to various health outcomes can be identified to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its tenants’ health needs so it can offer proactive support services tailored to individual circumstances.
I am always enthused by projects which focus on data integration to ensure positive outcomes. In order to to get value from data, organisations need a solid data strategy.
When creating an effective strategy and setting goals, business shouldn’t let perfect become the enemy of good. We’ve got ourselves into a habit of thinking we need all the data, but, simpler can be better.
When it comes to technology, the analogy I always use with organisations is that it is a bit like looking at a bucket and at water. Technology is responsible for the bucket – for making sure it’s the right size and shape and made out of the right material. Then, the data team is responsible for where the water in the bucket comes from and goes to – how it gets to the right place, whether it’s the right purity and so on. Those two things must work together. There are still too many organisations carrying around sloppily filled buckets?of?water!
When it comes to integrating new technology into a data strategy, it’s vital for organisations to acknowledge that Data fuels AI. So, without large amounts of good quality data, no AI tool can succeed. As the old adage goes “rubbish in, rubbish out”, and never is this clearer than in the world of AI tools.?
Before you even start to experiment with AI, you must ensure you have a concrete data strategy in place. Once you’ve got your data foundations right, you can worry less about compliance and more about the exciting innovations that data can unlock.?
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C&J Launches ‘The Spring Fling’! - Stay tuned for more details about our brand new event.
C&J in THINK Digital Partners!- ?Our CEO, Caroline was recently interviewed for Think Digital Partners Women in Digital series, discussing the challenges women in tech face and how these can be overcome. To learn more, read the full article here.
C&J Joins The British Data Awards!- We are thrilled to share that Caroline has been announced as a judge for the British Data Awards 2025! Caroline is honored to once again be using her industry insights, knowledge and experience on the judging panel. Mark your calendars…nominations open January 3rd!