From Reuters: Sensitive documents about U.S. taxpayers were found in trash outside all Internal Revenue Service sites visited in a investigation, putting the people at risk of identity theft, an inspector’s report says. The tax collection agency must bolster oversight of contractors who dispose of papers with personally identifiable information, the inspector general for tax…
Category: Government Sector
Bits ‘n Pieces
In the justice system: In a follow-up to a case reported last year, former Texas lottery worker Joseph Mueggenborg was arrested and charged with illegally “possessing” personal information on 140 lottery winners and employees, including their names and Social Security numbers. How he got hired by another state agency after being fired by another one…
Ca: Passport applications from Kelowna go missing
From the Canadian Press: More than one month after they were filed in Kelowna, at least 50 Canadian passport applications have disappeared. Passport Canada officials in Vancouver confirm the loss. They have advised affected applicants to check their bank accounts and keep a close watch for any potential identity theft. In December 2008, the Privacy…
Toledo Navy office compromises recruits’ identities
NBC24 reports: They thought their personal information would be safe in the hands of the U.S. Navy, but dozens of sailors who signed up at a Toledo recruiting station are about to learn that their personal information was compromised. Now, their families are not happy with the Navy. The men volunteered to serve their country,…
UK: Leicester City Council breaches the Data Protection Act
From a press release (pdf) from the Information Commissioner’s Office, this follow-up to a breach initially reported in November 2008: Leicester City Council has signed a formal Undertaking outlining that it will endeavour to keep personal information secure in future. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found Leicester City Council in breach of the Data Protection…
Data with personal info missing from National Archives (updated)
The Associated Press reports that the National Archives has lost a computer hard drive containing personal information from the Clinton administration, including Social Security numbers and addresses. The missing drive also contains other sensitive information. Update: the missing drive reportedly contains: …. 1T of data with “more than 100,000 Social Security numbers (including Al Gore’s…