Watchtower Society holding personal information / files?

by Celtic 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  Celtic

  A matter just occurred to me a few minutes ago which was on my mind quite a long while back.

  Does the local KH and the Society hold personal information and/or files about members and/or former members? If they do, how long do they keep this information? Is this a fully legal practice?

  What access rights do I have to gain access to my files held by the local KH or WT HQ in London?

  Is this practice a worldwide practice and if so what are the rights elsewhere of former members to see what they, the WT has about them or has written about them?

  How do I obtain a full copy of such information?

  Many thanks in advance for your answers.
• 

  Puternut

  Celty,

  Yes the local congregations can hold some personal information about you. But these are mostly committe cases, and are kept behind lock and key. There is no set time for holding or destroying files. The WT encourages the brothers to clean out old files from time to time, but most elders don't want to take the time.

  When I tried to clean out old files of brothers and sisters who had long deceased, many didn't want to comply. We had files on folks who were in a committee in the 1950's and many had moved or passed away.

  The head quarters have more information about people. Date of birth, date of baptism, dates of appointment, dates of committees, field service activity, etc etc. And in the case of committees, the notes regarding that are on file. It IS legal, and you cannot ask for them back. Nor can you request copies.

  Puternut
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  blondie

  The laws are different in the UK now with the Data Protection Act. I heard that the UK Branch office and congregations have had to change how they keep records.

  I read an account by a poster on here where they asked for their records and had to PAY for it and then the UK branch said they had nothing.

  Hmmmm?

  Blondie

  http://www.bigwig.net/knots/nightmares/data.htm
• 

  alaskagirl

  But these are mostly committe cases, and are kept behind lock and key.

  They are supposed to be locked, but I wouldn't count on it. My best friends Dad was the PO in our cong. and let's just say my friend and I learned some very interesting info about the members of our congregation.
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  Amazing1914

  Hi Celtic,

  Does the local KH and the Society hold personal information and/or files about members and/or former members? If they do, how long do they keep this information? Is this a fully legal practice?

  The Kingdom Hall Elders are supposed to destroy a file after 5 years (or the local statute of limitations, whichever is shorter). However, they can retain files longer for ongoing cases. Where a person was removed as a Pioneer or Elder or Disfellowshipped or Disassociated, the Society will retain a copy of the "action" forever. They are a religion, and therefore, not regulated by the government.

  What access rights do I have to gain access to my files held by the local KH or WT HQ in London?

  You have no rights. The best you might do is to have a lawyer subpeona you records, but you have to have an cause of cation, and you would only get a copy. The original would stay with the Kingdom Hall. A copy would be sent to the Society because your request would have alerted their legal department.

  Is this practice a worldwide practice and if so what are the rights elsewhere of former members to see what they, the WT has about them or has written about them?

  Yes, it is worldwide. Most nations have religious freedom, including the UK. So, the likelihood you would have special rights would be uncommon. In those nations where the individual has rights over the Society, the Society would not keep such records or not keep them in that country.

  How do I obtain a full copy of such information?

  File a lawsuit, and hire the best lawyer money can buy. Also, given my recent deposition and trial testimony, I was confronted with some issues from my past ... embarassing ... and very old, dating back nearly thirty years ago ... but the Society saw fit to bring them up to me in a failed attempt to upset me, and get under my skin. So, my advice to any active JWs who are thinking about leaving the religion: NEVER hand in anything in writing ... and never confess to anything at any time for any reason whatsoever. For everything you say can and will be used and twisted against you. Jim W.
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  Undaunted Danny

  All the bleep they got on me is now public info available in mutiple languages.Your as sick as your secrets,I ain't got none.

  I have private kiss n tell tales on active dubs some of it up at my site www.Dannyhaszard.com It cuts both ways,gawd I just love freedom of speech.

  Download into your pants creeps.
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  Farkel

  : and never confess to anything at any time for any reason whatsoever. For everything you say can and will be used and twisted against you.

  Yes. This came about from the WTS's high court and is known as the "Dubranda decision."

  (Sorry to make light of such a serious subject, Amazing1914)

  Farkel
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  Amazing1914

  Farkel,

  (Sorry to make light of such a serious subject, Amazing1914)

  No problemo ... your "Farkel with a Sparkel" humor is sorely needed around here ... well there too ... in fact, everywhere.
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  Jim Dee

  Hi there

  About 3 years ago the Society made a number of changes relating to the DPA (Data Protection Act). This was a massive "c) change on the way bodies of elders use and operate information.

  The end result is that, because new legislation relates to paper as well as digital - almost all information has been destroyed or sent to bethel (depending on severity, child abuse etc etc). Also all publishers had to sign a "Data Protection permission" notation on the p[ublisher record cards - also the S8 forms were withdrawn.

  The exception is serious disfellowshipping matters which are stored in the safe and copies sent to bethel - all other jusdicial matters were shredded or moved. No notes are now to be made at judicial matters and the elders have to recall using "Holy Spirit".

  I was an attendee at the elders meetings, the society were doing a full CYA - they were terrified (nd still are) of the DPA. The database location is secret and I beleive off shore - to cover the DPA loophole.

  Do the society have information on you that you can use the DPA for? probably - but you need to ask fro it carefully - and don't forget to request the elders meeting minutes, Bethel and any computers that they are linked to that may or may not be in the UK

  Jim