Secret files on stolen Blears PC – BBC News
“A personal computer holding sensitive documents relating to defence and extremism has been stolen from Hazel Blears’ constituency office in Salford.”
BBC News, 17th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: data protection
Lords warn Government on passenger data isolation – OUT-LAW.com
“The Government’s hard line on the collection and use of information on travellers could isolate it within Europe and leave it with less information than other states, a parliamentary committee has warned.”
OUT-LAW.com, 16th June 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Smith faces Commons summons to explain secret papers blunder – The Guardian
“The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, was last night facing a Commons summons to explain how another batch of secret documents were left on a train.”
The Guardian, 16th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Laptop lapses which embarrassed government – The Guardian
“The revelation that top secret documents relating to al-Qaida and Iraq were left on a train is the latest in a string of recent embarrassments over data security lapses.”
The Guardian, 12th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
ICO issues new guidance on transfer of employee information – OUT-LAW.com
“The Information Commissioner’s Office has today published new guidance to help organisations comply with the Data Protection Act when providing information about their employees under TUPE, the law that protects staff when a business is transferred.”
OUT-LAW.com, 4th June 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Secrecy law change to help pensioners – The Independent
“The Government is planning to reform data protection laws so pensioners in fuel poverty can be contacted directly and offered help, it was announced today.”
The Independent, 30th May 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Spying council to be investigated – BBC News
“A privacy watchdog is to investigate a council that used powers to spy on people, including a family suspected of lying about where they lived.”
BBC News, 28th May 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Privacy watchdog opposes giant telecoms database – OUT-LAW.com
“The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has criticised proposals to build one Government-owned database to hold a log of phone calls, email and internet use in the UK. The ICO has said that the move would be unjustified.”
OUT-LAW.com, 27th May 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Tories face inquiry after voter data leaked – The Independent
“The Conservatives’ campaign in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election suffered an embarrassing last-minute setback when the party published the personal details of more than 8,000 voters.”
The Independent, 22nd May 2008
Source: www.independen.co.uk
‘Big Brother’ database for phones and e-mails – The Times
“A massive government database holding details of every phone call, e-mail and time spent on the internet by the public is being planned as part of the fight against crime and terrorism. Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies would hand over the records to the Home Office under plans put forward by officials.”
The Times, 20th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Information on accessing court, tribunal and prison service records – Ministry of Justice
“Updated guidance for researchers on accessing court, tribunal and prison service records.”
Ministry of Justice, 16th May 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Student son’s right to privacy – The Times
“A university lecturer who wrote to an undergraduate’s mother to outline details of the student’s studies has been reprimanded for breaching data protection rules.”
The Times, 15th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Government orders data retention by ISPs – OUT-LAW.com
“Phone and internet companies will soon be forced to keep logs of internet usage to be made available to the police under a new law announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown this week.”
OUT-LAW.com, 15th May 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Hi-tech tool spots child drinkers – BBC News
“The supermarket chain Budgens has installed face recognition cameras in one of its stores to stop children buying alcohol and cigarettes.”
BBC News, 13th May 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Information Commissioner gets power to fine for privacy breaches – OUT-LAW.com
“The Information Commissioner has been given the ability to fine organisations if their operational procedures cause a gross breach of data protection principles. The move, which had not been expected by privacy experts, follows a Government defeat in the House of Lords.”
OUT-LAW.com, 12th May 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Tax staff breach data security – BBC News
“More than 600 staff at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have been disciplined for accessing personal or sensitive data, it has been revealed.”
BBC News, 1st May 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lords defy Government by proposing criminalisation of data rogues – OUT-LAW.com
“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.”
OUT-LAW.com, 28th April 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Peers back data recklessness law – BBC News
“Peers have backed a Liberal Democrat move to make it an offence for public or private sector workers ‘recklessly’ to disclose people’s details.”
BBC News, 23rd April 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Privacy chief notified of 94 data breaches since HMRC debacle – OUT-LAW.com
“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.”
OUT-LAW.com, 23rd April 2008
Source: www.out-law.com
Customer data ‘needs protection’ – BBC News
“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.”
BBC News, 21st April 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
