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9:1
[Open section]
Else Hansen
Ny viden
– gamle idéer
Elektroniske registre i den danske centraladministration
[New Knowledge
–
Old Ideas:
Electronic registers in the Danish Central Administration]
Affiliation: Rigsarkivet i København
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Keywords:
electronic registration, Danish Government Administration,
Central Office of Civil Registration, The National Patient
Registry, Aliens Register, student registration, Data
Protection Act, archival studies
Abstract:
Before the 1970s, registers
were primarily used for individual reference, for which
purpose paper registers are quite adequate. The first
electronic registers rationalised the collection and
availability of information and improved the possibilities of
collecting statistics. In the 1970s, advanced statistics and
prognoses were prerequisites for centralised social planning.
From 1979 onwards, law regulated the use of electronic
registers. This prevented the misuse of personal
information concerning individuals. In the 1980s, processes
and results that had previously been viewed as immeasurable,
became better defined and were becoming measurable. At the
same time as electronic registers were adapting to their new
functions, they were still being used for individual
references.
The study includes four case studies, each illustrating
distinctive features in the history of electronic registers.
With the registration of university students’ examinations,
the Ministry was able to build up a result-orientated basis
for the distribution of funds to the university, that is, the
new register met new political needs. Establishing the Central
Civil Registration meant that every citizen was given his/her
own number which was used as an identifier in any state
register concerning the citizens. Hence, pieces of
information in different electronic registers could be
combined. The Electronic Aliens Register replaced a huge paper
register and made access to the register much easier for
regional and state authorities than it had been previously.
And finally, municipal autonomy made it difficult to
establish the National Patient Registry. Local registers that
referred to common guidelines had to be accepted in order for
the registry to become functional.
The article may be referenced as
Hansen, Else.
“Ny viden
– gamle idéer: elektroniske registre i den danske centraladministration.”
Human IT
9.1
(2007): 38–66. <http://www.hb.se/bhs/ith/1-9/eh.pdf>
