THE introduction of Call Line Identification (CLI) on Irish telephones should be accompanied by technology allowing callers to block the information, the commissioner's report recommends.
Already available in other countries, CLI transmits the phone number of the person making a call to the telephone of the person being called, an innovation which could "profoundly affect the privacy interests" of telephone users in this State.
The commissioner, has asked Telecom Eireann to incorporate the requirements of the Data Protection Act in its planning for CLI, urging it to consider services already available in the UK. These involve dialled prefixes to block number identification on particular phone lines, or to unblock it for individual calls on lines normally blocked.
The company was also urged to respect the choice of ex-directory subscribers who have indicated a preference not to have their numbers generally available.
The commissioner had separate discussions during 1995 with the Eastern Health Board on the possible introduction of a medical "smart card", which would hold information on the cardholder's medical condition and other details.
He advised a number of safeguards, including assurance of accurate and up-to-date information, protection against unauthorised access and access for the cardholder to the data.
He also proposed that, before the EHB proceeded with a proposed pilot scheme in Bray, it should seek the explicit consent of those participating. The board undertook to consider all the recommendations.