Private data, public interest? – BBC News

Posted March 3rd, 2008 in data protection, internet, media, news by sally

“The use of material taken from personal profiles on social networks by newspapers is to be the subject of a major consultation undertaken by industry watchdog the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).”

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BBC News, 29th February 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Laptop sold on eBay hid confidential Home Office disc – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2008 in data protection, government departments, news by sally

“The Home Office has launched an investigation into how an optical disc holding confidential information was discovered hidden beneath the keyboard of a laptop bought on the online auction site eBay.”

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The Guardian, 28th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government wants personal details of every traveller – The Guardian

Posted February 25th, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“Passengers travelling between EU countries or taking domestic flights would have to hand over a mass of personal information, including their mobile phone numbers and credit card details, as part of a new package of security measures being demanded by the British government. The data would be stored for 13 years and used to ‘profile’ suspects.”

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers penalised for data protection breach – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 22nd, 2008 in data protection, law firms, news by sally

“Two London law firms must pay £815 each after the Information Commissioner sued them for not fulfilling thier duties under the Data Protection Act.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 21st February 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

More security for child database needed, says review – The Guardian

Posted February 21st, 2008 in children, data protection, news by sally

“Further security controls are needed to ensure the safety of data stored on the government’s new database, which will contain information on every child in the country.”

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The Guardian, 21st February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquiry ordered into DNA disc blunder – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 21st, 2008 in data protection, DNA, news by sally

“The Attorney General has ordered an inquiry into a ‘catastrophic’ blunder that allowed foreign criminals to commit crimes in Britain.”

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Daily Telegraph, 21st February 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

CPS admits disc of suspects’ DNA was ‘mislaid’ for a year – The Guardian

Posted February 20th, 2008 in Crown Prosecution Service, data protection, DNA, news by sally

“The government last night faced fresh embarrassment over lost personal data, after admitting that a disc containing the DNA details of thousands of suspected foreign criminals was mislaid for a year.”

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The Guardian, 20th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New database increases power of surveillance over citizens – The Times

Posted February 13th, 2008 in data protection, identity cards, news by sally

“More than half the population supports the Government’s controversial identity card scheme, according to a survey for the Home Office.”

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The Times, 13th February 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Consumers warned on data loss compensation packs – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 12th, 2008 in competition, data protection, news by sally

“Victims of Government data loss are being encouraged to buy packs claiming to help them claim compensation. Thousands have paid out, but privacy lawyers have warned that success is very unlikely.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th February 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Police may have to discard DNA samples – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2008 in data protection, DNA, news by sally

“Sweeping changes in the way DNA is stored on Britain’s national database are likely to be introduced following an ethical review. The first move would prevent police from indefinitely storing DNA samples provided voluntarily by witnesses to eliminate themselves from investigations, a move that would affect thousands of people.”

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The Guardian, 10th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Crime data losses come to light – BBC News

Posted February 7th, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“Murder case notes, a gangster dossier and papers detailing threats to the UK were all found in Greater Manchester after being lost by the authorities.”

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BBC News, 7th February 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Debunking six myths of the Data Protection Act – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 31st, 2008 in data protection, special report by sally

“Recent security scandals have raised the profile of the Data Protection Act (DPA). But 10 years after it was passed, many organisations still misunderstand it. Sue Cullen of Pinsent Masons’ information law team debunks some of the common myths.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 31st January 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Court delivers a blow to record companies on internet piracy – The Times

Posted January 30th, 2008 in copyright, data protection, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

“Record labels and film studios cannot demand that telecoms companies reveal the personal details of people suspected of swapping copyrighted material on the internet, the European Court of Justice ruled yesterday.”

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The Times, 30th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

CCTV must not record conversations, warns new guidance – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 29th, 2008 in closed circuit television, data protection, news by sally

“Closed-circuit television (CCTV) system operators would need exceptional justification for recording sound as well as video, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has warned.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 29th January 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Privacy chief wants new criminal offence – OUT-LAW.com

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

“Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has asked the Government to create a new offence of recklessly or knowing breaching data protection principles punishable by unlimited fines. He has also asked for other powers to be strengthened.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 29th January 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Double standard’ on data safety – BBC News

Posted January 26th, 2008 in data protection, news by sally

“Concerns about data security have been raised after it emerged celebrities, Royals and MPs are blocked from submitting income tax returns online.”

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BBC News, 26th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Revenue squeezes banks for offshore accounts – The Times

Posted January 26th, 2008 in banking, data protection, HM Revenue & Customs, news, tax evasion by sally

“HM Revenue & Customs has stepped up its campaign to force banks to release the names of thousands of customers with offshore accounts as part of its fight against tax evasion, despite fears that it may be overstepping its legal powers.”

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The Times, 25th January 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Court case data CDs lost in post – BBC News

Posted January 23rd, 2008 in data protection, government departments, news by sally

“Four CDs containing personal details from court cases have gone missing in the post, the government has admitted.”

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BBC News, 23rd January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MoD admits inquiry into 69 lost laptops – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2008 in data protection, government departments, news by sally

“The Ministry of Defence is investigating the reported loss of 69 laptops and seven personal computers over the past year, officials revealed yesterday, as Whitehall staff were banned from removing laptops containing sensitive data from their offices.”

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The Guardian, 22nd January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoD to be quizzed over lost data – BBC News

Posted January 21st, 2008 in data protection, government departments, news by sally

“The information watchdog is to grill the Ministry of Defence over its data protection policies after it lost the personal details of 600,000 people.”

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BBC News, 19th January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk