DataBreaches.Net

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

UK: Warning for workers after charity employee is prosecuted for data protection offences

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Dissent

Speaking of charity organizations and breaches, here’s the flip side of an external hack: an insider who doesn’t follow the rules of data protection. From the Information Commissioner’s Office:

People working with personal information have been warned they have to obey strict privacy laws after a charity worker was prosecuted for making his own copies of sensitive data.

Robert Morrisey, 63, sent spreadsheets containing the information of vulnerable clients to his personal email address without the knowledge of the data controller, his employer the Rochdale Connections Trust.

The defendant sent 11 emails from his work email account on 22 February 2017, which contained the sensitive personal data of 183 people, three of whom were children. The personal data included full names, dates of birth, telephone numbers and medical information. Further investigation showed that he had sent a similar database to his personal account on 14 June 2016.

Morrisey, of Milnrow, Rochdale, appeared at Preston Crown Court and admitted unlawfully obtaining personal data in breach of Section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998. He was given a conditional discharge for two years and was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,845.25, as well as a victim surcharge of £15.

Steve Eckersley, Head of Enforcement at the Information Commissioner’s Office, which brought the prosecution, said:

“People have a right to expect that when they share their personal information with an organisation, it will be handled properly and legally. That is especially so when it is sensitive personal data.

“People whose jobs give them access to this type of information need to realise that just because they can access it, that doesn’t mean they should. They need to have a valid legal reason for doing so. Copying sensitive personal information without the necessary permission isn’t a valid reason.”

Note that I’m not seeing anything that really suggests he had a criminal motivation such as misuse as the data. Was he just prosecuted for violating data protection laws without any evil motivation? It appears that might be the case, unless someone can point me to other information on this case…?

Category: InsiderMiscellaneousNon-U.S.

Post navigation

← Charities unprepared for cyber attack risk
Corporate watchdog Asic in privacy breach exposing users’ search history →

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

  • ICE takes steps to deport the Australian hacker known as “DR32”
  • Hearing on the Federal Government and AI
  • Nigerian National Sentenced To More Than Five Years For Hacking, Fraud, And Identity Theft Scheme
  • Data breach of patient info ends in firing of Miami hospital employee
  • Texas DOT investigates breach of crash report records, sends notification letters
  • PowerSchool hacker pleads guilty, released on personal recognizance bond
  • Rewards for Justice offers $10M reward for info on RedLine developer or RedLine’s use by foreign governments
  • New evidence links long-running hacking group to Indian government
  • Zaporizhzhia Cyber ​​Police Exposes Hacker Who Caused Millions in Losses to Victims by Mining Cryptocurrency
  • Germany fines Vodafone $51 million for privacy, security breaches

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

  • The Decision That Murdered Privacy
  • Hearing on the Federal Government and AI
  • California county accused of using drones to spy on residents
  • How the FBI Sought a Warrant to Search Instagram of Columbia Student Protesters
  • Germany fines Vodafone $51 million for privacy, security breaches
  • Malaysia enacts data sharing rules for public sector
  • U.S. Enacts Take It Down Act

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.