DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

UK: Pembrokeshire child sex abuse files 'released in error'

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Dissent

Cross-posting this from DataBreaches.net…

The BBC reports:

Allegations that Pembrokeshire council wrongly disclosed sensitive reports about 10 child sex abuse victims to another victim are being investigated.

It is claimed the person wanted information about himself, but received private details about others.

Read more on BBC.

The story was initially reported earlier today in Western Mail, which provides more detail:

The Information Commissioner’s Office will seek to establish why Pembrokeshire County Council gave around 400 pages of psychiatric reports about other victims to “Steven” after he sought disclosure of material relating solely to himself.

Steven – not his real name – was himself a victim in one of the most horrific cases of child sex abuse seen in Wales.

[…]

Steven claims that when he informed Pembrokeshire council officials about the inappropriate – and potentially illegal – disclosure to him of material relating to other victims, he was asked to return it quietly and added: “I was told that if I made a fuss the council would be fined, reducing the amount of money available for child protection today.”

Not only did the council allegedly lean on “Steven” not to go public with the breach, but he alleges they tried some of the same heavy-handed techniques I’ve criticized recently in other cases:

“One council officer told me I would be entitled to a small compensation payment for the distress I suffered as a result of the reports being wrongly disclosed to me.

“But I was also told that if I didn’t hand the material back, the council would apply for a court order forcing me to give back not just the wrongly disclosed material, but everything else.

The “everything else” apparently refers to all the material he had requested – and was legally entitled to – under the Data Protection Act.

A spokesperson denied that “Steven” had been threatened with any court action, but he insists that he was.

Wisely, he turned the papers over to the ICO’s office.

Read more on WalesOnline.

The Pembrokeshire County Council reportedly has had a number of concerns raised about its child protection – and now data protection. I would not be surprised if the ICO issued a monetary penalty over this breach, if confirmed, as it involved clearly sensitive information.

No related posts.

Category: Health Data

Post navigation

← Proposed settlement in lawsuit filed by Winn-Dixie employee against Purchasing Power LLC
UK: Pembrokeshire child sex abuse files ‘released in error’ →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Integrated Oncology Network victim of phishing attack; multiple locations affected (2)
  • HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule Investigation with Deer Oaks Behavioral Health for $225k and a Corrective Action Plan
  • HB1127 Explained: North Dakota’s New InfoSec Requirements for Financial Corporations
  • Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined
  • Five youths arrested on suspicion of phishing
  • Russia Jailed Hacker Who Worked for Ukrainian Intelligence to Launch Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure
  • Kentfield Hospital victim of cyberattack by World Leaks, patient data involved
  • India’s Max Financial says hacker accessed customer data from its insurance unit
  • Brazil’s central bank service provider hacked, $140M stolen
  • Iranian and Pro-Regime Cyberattacks Against Americans (2011-Present)

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
  • German court awards Facebook user €5,000 for data protection violations
  • Record-Breaking $1.55M CCPA Settlement Against Health Information Website Publisher
  • Ninth Circuit Reviews Website Tracking Class Actions and the Reach of California’s Privacy Law
  • US healthcare offshoring: Navigating patient data privacy laws and regulations
  • Data breach reveals Catwatchful ‘stalkerware’ is spying on thousands of phones
  • Google Trackers: What You Can Actually Escape And What You Can’t

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.