Bea Vongdouuangchanh reports: There were 5,600 privacy breaches in the federal government in 2014, affecting almost 44,000 individuals, according to data ministers tabled in the House of Commons on March 23. According to the 2013 (sic) annual report from the privacy commissioner, there were 426 complaints received. This includes all complaints from departments and the…
Category: Government Sector
UK: Children’s details lost and sent to wrong place by Derby City Council employees
The Derby Telegraph reports: Derby children’s personal details have been lost and posted to the wrong address this year by city council staff. The paper filed under freedom of information and found out more about the Derby City Council‘s breaches over the past 12 months. Incidents included: a lost notepad containing details of cases “review…
Ca: Anne Bertrand raps health department over medicare card breach
Catherine Harrop reports: New Brunswick’s privacy commissioner has reprimanded the Department of Health for failing to adequately test its massive medicare data system following a 2011 overhaul. A technical failure resulted in 114 medicare cards being sent to the wrong addresses and 24 households receiving multiple cards, some belonging to other families. The error meant…
Report Says Former IRS Employees–Think Lois Lerner–Can Still Peruse Your Tax Returns
Robert W. Wood translates a GAO report that was recently reported on this site: Could Lois Lerner still take a look at your tax returns on IRS computers? It sounds preposterous, but a new watchdog report says former IRS employees still have access to IRS computer systems long after they have no official business with the information. The report is by the U.S….
Ca: Cops called, but no charges in Service NL privacy breach
Rob Antle reports: Service NL Minister Dan Crummell won’t say whether an employee who inappropriately accessed the personal information of 28 people at the Motor Registration Division in Mount Pearl is now back on the job. “The only thing I can tell you is this — that person has been disciplined,” Crummell said. Read more…
Swedish city seeks half a million kroner in damages after teenager hacks system
IT Governance reports: In 2013, Erik Sundqvist, then 16, hacked into Umeå Municipality’s IT system and gained access to a database containing more than 600 passwords. He was found guilty, but escaped a jail sentence because of his age – instead, he was sentenced to 35 hours’ community service. Now the municipality is seeking half…