From Kable: The Department for Work and Pensions has disclosed that 124 council employees illicitly viewed personal data on its Customer Information System last year. A Freedom of Information request by GC News revealed that local authorities dismissed 26 employees during 2009-10 for breaching data security. That contrasts with research on the previous year, which found…
Author: Dissent
Fla. Court Wrongfully Compelled Medical Treatment of Pregnant Woman, Appeals Court Rules
In a follow-up to a disturbing case previously covered here and here, finally some respect for privacy from the courts: The state of Florida cannot compel a pregnant woman to comply with medical treatment to protect the fetus unless the state shows a compelling interest that overrules the woman’s constitutional right to make her own…
Data Security Breach Bill Calls for Strict Notification
Dom Nicastro writes: A data breach bill filed August 5 requires entities that hold consumers’ sensitive information to create a robust data compliance protection plan and holds them to strict breach notification requirements. U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) filed the “Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2010,” which would be…
Centric Software laptop stolen from Controller’s car
A laptop stolen from the car of Centric Software’s controller on July 23 contained personal information on its employees. The car was parked at the Controller’s home in San Jose at the time of the theft, according to a notification (pdf) sent to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office on August 9. A notification sent…
WA: Burglary at dental office nabs patient data
It’s easy to see how the new HITECH requirements are having an impact. Covered entities are not only notifying HHS of breaches affecting over 500 patients, but are posting notices on their web sites and often issuing press releases to help meet the notification requirements. Here’s a press release issued today by Dr. Ward Morris:…
Anthem responds to The Plain Dealer story
Sheryl Harris of The Plain Dealer recently took Anthem to task over a recently disclosed breach and suggests that it may be linked to at least two cases of fraud reported by Ohioans: […] How do two men who have never taken out payday loans wind up on a list of cash-advance frequent fliers? The…