I saw this recently – Correction: (UK) GRO Adds Index of Births to 1934. (IAJGS Public Records Access Alert): T IAJGS Public Records Access Alert posted it to their mailing list December 28, 2020. To view the list, you have to register on their list. You can register at: http://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/listinfo/records-access-alerts. Read the instructions if you aren’t already on the list. Much longer article, but here’s enough to encourage you to read more.
I wrote the following posting early this AM about the UK’s General Records Office (GRO) and their adding indices to births to 1934. That is all correct
I apparently misinterpreted phraseology used in the Lost Cousins Newsletter posting where I learned about this when there was a parenthetical comment, “At this time of year it’s usual for the GRO to add an extra year to their online index of births for England & Wales, so I was expecting
1920 to be added (now that the entries are 100 years old).” The “now that the entries are 100 years old,” and made the erroneous comment about an embargo of 100 years. There is no embargo in the UK. This was brought to my attention by Jeremy Frankel, president of SFBAJGS and a professional genealogist whose roots are in the United Kingdom.
I wrote to Peter Calver, who owns and writes the Lost Cousins Newsletter and he responded, “Data protection legislation in the UK restricts the publication of personal information for living people – the GRO is following a similar procedure to their counterparts in Scotland.”
Again the data extension is correct to 1934, but the term “embargo” was incorrect. My apologies for any confusion on my part due to the data protection legislation and living people and the use of the 100 years terminology.
Jan Meisels Allen
Chairperson, IAJGS Pubic Records Access Monitoring Committee
Ups Downs Family History 