[unixfox]

The data will still be available in another, more expensive form.

I'm sure that will stop the abuse. < /sarcasm >

[PAR35]

The data will still be available in another, more expensive form

Exactly what I had cut out for my comment. It's not about privacy, it's about more money for the government.

[supercat]

I'm sure that will stop the abuse. < /sarcasm >

Well, it can't do much to stop the abuse of what's already out there, but the basic principle is that if it is to be legally possible for a person's records to be expunged, it must be possible to (1) expunge all copies of those records, or (2) check all attempts to access records, and ensure that records that are supposed to be expunged are not given out. The only way the state can ensure these functions are performed is by doing them itself.