Your Front Page For Information Governance News
Analysis and Commentary about Global Data Protection Laws, Including GDPR, FOI, Cyber Security and Surveillance
One of the most popular search terms on our blog is “disclosure of names under FOI.”A further question that we were recently asked on a course is whether FOI practitioners should provide their names when they respond to requests. There have been some important developments since 2013 and our last two blogs on this topic. The provisions of S.40(2) of the Freedom of … Continue reading “Disclosure Staff Names in FOI Requests “
This is an FOI decision from the Information Commissioner that I have planned to blog about for some time, but have now only just got round to blogging about it. On 11 March 2013 the ICO issued decision notice FS50468600 which involved the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The content of the decision notice … Continue reading “Disclosure of Staff Names in FOI Refusals”
When considering request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000(FOI) public authorities often face a dilemma about disclosing names of staff. Names are generally considered to be personal data, being information relating to living identifiable individuals (as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA)). (Although one Information Tribunal (as it was known … Continue reading “Disclosure of Staff Names under FOI”
In a concerning revelation of data security lapses, NHS Fife has been formally reprimanded by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) following an incident where an unauthorised individual accessed sensitive patient information. The breach occurred in a hospital ward and highlights key learnings for all organisations regarding security protocols for personal data. Incident Overview The case … Continue reading “ICO Reprimand for NHS Patient Data Breach”
The largest police force in the UK, the London Metropolitan Police (also known as the London Met), has fallen victim to a substantial data breach. Approximately 47,000 members of the police staff have been informed about the potential compromise of their personal data. This includes details such as photos, names, and ranks. The breach occurred … Continue reading “Another Day; Another Police Data Breach “
Last week, the names and details of individuals adopted over the past century were found to be accessible on the genealogy website, Scotland’s People. The exposure of these records, alongside other recent data breaches, has ignited a discourse on privacy and security. Upon being alerted by a concerned mother, who discovered her adopted child’s details … Continue reading “Privacy Concerns Raised Over Adoption Records on Genealogy Website “
Today, Ibrahim Hasan gave an interview to BBC Radio Ulster about the the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) recent data breach. In response to an FOI request, PSNI shared names of all officers and staff, where they were based and their roles. Listen below. More about the PSNI and the Electoral Commission data breaches here. … Continue reading “Ibrahim Hasan’s BBC Radio Ulster Interview about the PSNI Data Breach “
Yesterday two major data breaches were reported in the public sector. Both have major implications for individuals’ privacy. They are also a test for the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (ICO) approach to the use of its enforcement power. In the morning, the Electoral Commission revealed, in a public notice issued under Article 33 and 34 of … Continue reading “The Electoral Commission and PSNI: One Day, Two Data Breaches!”
Last week, the Government signalled its plans to reform the UK Data Protection regime by publishing its response to the consultation launched in September last year. In “Data: A New Direction” the Government said it intended “to create an ambitious, pro-growth and innovation-friendly data protection regime that underpins the trustworthy use of data.” Time will tell whether the … Continue reading “The Future of the UK Data Protection Regime”
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined the Cabinet Office £500,000 for disclosing postal addresses of the 2020 New Year Honours recipients online. The New Year Honours list is supposed to “recognise the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.” However in 2020 the media attention was on the fact that, together with the names … Continue reading “Cabinet Office Receives £500,000 GDPR Fine”
