ACT Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services Joy Burch says a security breach involving data from her department is unlikely to result in identity theft. In November last year, a department employee breached protocol and downloaded information onto a laptop to take home. The laptop was stolen during a home burglary. Ms Burch says…
Category: Government Sector
UK: Council breached Data Protection Act by losing flash drive with unencrypted information
Cambridgeshire County Council breached the Data Protection Act by losing a memory stick containing sensitive data relating to vulnerable adults, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today. The ICO was informed by the council in November 2010 that an employee had recently lost an unencrypted memory stick containing personal data relating to a minimum of…
UK: Renewal applications lost by Passport Service
The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) breached the Data Protection Act by losing the passport renewal applications of 21 individuals, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today. The loss occurred in May 2010 at the passport office that was responsible for processing the applications and the ICO was subsequently informed. The missing details included the…
UK: 100 police workers in breach of data protection
Coreena Ford reports: A police officer is suspected of using a force computer to pass classified information onto criminals, the Sunday Sun can reveal. The community support officer – who was sacked – is one of no less than 100 North officers and civilian staff to breach data protection laws for their own use over…
LA: Report alleges misuse of database
Michelle Millhollon reports: A new report alleges that Murphy Painter used his position as the state’s alcohol and tobacco control commissioner to illegally obtain information on judges, the governor’s staff, a former LSU quarterback, U.S. Sen. David Vitter’s wife and others more than 1,000 times over five years. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar…
UK: Council sent benefit details to wrong recipients
The Isle of Anglesey County Council breached the Data Protection Act after sending benefit details to the wrong recipients, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today. The ICO was first made aware of the breach in November 2010 when the council reported that a contractor had mistakenly sent letters to the wrong individuals. The letters…