Tax staff breach data security – BBC News

Posted May 1st, 2008 in data protection, government departments, news by sally

“More than 600 staff at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have been disciplined for accessing personal or sensitive data, it has been revealed.”

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BBC News, 1st May 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lords defy Government by proposing criminalisation of data rogues – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 29th, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“The House of Lords has proposed making it a criminal offence to disclose personal information intentionally or recklessly. The Lords passed an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, defeating the Government.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Peers back data recklessness law – BBC News

Posted April 24th, 2008 in data protection, negligence, news by sally

“Peers have backed a Liberal Democrat move to make it an offence for public or private sector workers ‘recklessly’ to disclose people’s details.”

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BBC News, 23rd April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Privacy chief notified of 94 data breaches since HMRC debacle – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 23rd, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“The Information Commissioner has been notified of almost 100 data breaches by public and private sector organisations since the loss of 25 million people’s details by HM Revenue and Customs last November, according to figures released yesterday.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rd April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Customer data ‘needs protection’ – BBC News

Posted April 22nd, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“Companies and public bodies are not doing enough to protect customers’ data, the UK’s privacy watchdog and a major survey of security have said.”

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BBC News, 21st April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New anti-terrorism rules ‘allow US to spy on British motorists’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 21st, 2008 in data protection, news, privacy, road traffic by sally

“Routine journeys carried out by millions of British motorists can be monitored by authorities in the United States and other enforcement agencies across the world under anti-terrorism rules introduced discreetly by Jacqui Smith.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st April 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

EU privacy chief wants data breach law for business – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 18th, 2008 in data protection, EC law, news, telecommunications by sally

“The privacy watchdog for EU institutions has called for a planned requirement for telecoms companies to publish details of information security breaches to be extended to banks, businesses and medical bodies.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Search engines must delete data after six months, say watchdogs – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 8th, 2008 in data protection, internet, news by sally

“Search engines must delete search logs after six months if they are to comply with data protection laws, according to a committee of EU countries’ privacy watchdogs. Google has said that the findings do not take account of commercial reality.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Jail threat for data thieves recedes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 8th, 2008 in data protection, news, punishment, theft by sally

“Plans to jail personal data thieves have been shelved due to a surprise amendment to a proposed new law. The new law will contain a clause threatening jail, but that clause will not be implemented.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 7th April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Law Lords to rule on clash of data protection and FOI laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 4th, 2008 in data protection, freedom of information, news by sally

“A landmark case on the compatibility of data protection and freedom of information laws was heard by the House of Lords this week. The outcome could have profound implications, according to one expert.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd April, 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Ministers lift jail threat on data theft – The Guardian

Posted April 4th, 2008 in data protection, media, news, privacy by sally

“Tabloid newspapers will be able to carry on using private detectives without fear of jail sentences after a government climb-down was confirmed last night.”

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The Guardian, 4th April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Privacy watchdog advises on how to deal with data loss – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“Leaders of organisations which lose personal data should think carefully before telling customers, employees or regulators of the incident, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said. New advice says that notification should have a clear purpose.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Security fears over fraud report – BBC News

Posted April 3rd, 2008 in confidentiality, data protection, local government, news by sally

“Confidential information about security lapses in a council’s benefits section has been released – with passages that might help fraudsters highlighted.”

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BBC News, 2nd April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

PM seeks retreat on bill to outlaw press spying – The Guardian

Posted April 1st, 2008 in data protection, media, news by sally

“Gordon Brown has demanded the scrapping of longstanding plans for a clampdown on newspapers that illegally buy personal data, such as health, bank and telephone records, the Guardian has learned. This has provoked criticism that he has bowed to pressure from the media.”

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The Guardian, 1st April 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BAA told to scrap fingerprint plan for Terminal 5 travellers – The Times

Posted March 27th, 2008 in airports, data protection, fingerprints, news by sally

“BAA has climbed down over plans to fingerprint passengers at Heathrow’s new fifth terminal after the privacy watchdog said the move may be illegal.”

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The Times, 27th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Plea to ban employers trawling Facebook – The Times

Posted March 25th, 2008 in data protection, employment, internet, news, privacy by sally

“A powerful coalition of children’s charities is urging ministers to make it illegal for companies to trawl Facebook and other social networking websites for information on prospective recruits.”

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The Times, 25th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Privacy alarm over fingerprinting at Heathrow’s fifth terminal – The Times

Posted March 25th, 2008 in airports, data protection, fingerprints, news by sally

“BAA and the Government are at odds over plans to fingerprint passengers at Heathrow’s new fifth terminal. The Home Office denies having told the Spanish-owned airport operator to use fingerprinting as an extra security measure and the privacy watchdog says that the plan may be illegal.”

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The Times, 24th March 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Information Commissioner to focus on reducing risk, not enforcement – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 19th, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said that its aim is to protect people from the risks associated with abuses of their personal data rather than strictly enforce the law. It has announced its broad aims in a new strategy document.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th March 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Government must take data protection more seriously, says Parliament committee – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 18th, 2008 in data protection, government departments, news by sally

“The minister responsible for data protection should be more powerful according to a Parliamentary committee which has also condemned the Government for not taking data protection seriously enough.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th March 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Data protection of children: ensuring consent as children mature – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 18th, 2008 in children, data protection, news by sally

“Companies processing children’s data may need explicit consent directly from a child to continue using it once that child reaches maturity, Europe’s privacy officials have said. The child may also revoke consent given earlier by a parent or guardian.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th March 2008

Source: www.out-law.com