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[Dataloss] ICO says more than 9000 children's details put at risk by UK councils

From: security curmudgeon (jerichoattrition.org)
Date: Thu Jul 22 2010 - 04:35:40 CDT

http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/view/10852/ico-says-more-than-9000-childrens-details-put-at-risk-by-uk-councils/

ICO says more than 9000 children's details put at risk by UK councils
09 July 2010

  The Information Commissioner' Office (ICO) has taken action against the
London Borough of Barnet, West Sussex County Council and Buckinghamshire
County Council for breaching the Data Protection Act.

According to the ICO, a systemic lack of staff training on how to handle
personal information has led to the loss of sensitive personal information
relating to thousands of children.

Sally-Anne Poole, the ICO's enforcement group manager, said that the three
councils have shown a poor regard for the importance of protecting
children's personal information.

It is, she said, essential that councils ensure the correct preventative
safeguards are in place when storing and transferring personal
information, especially when it concerns sensitive information relating to
children.

"A lack of awareness and training in data protection requirements can lead
to personal information falling into the wrong hands", she said.

The ICO says that theft from the home of an employee of the London Borough
of Barnet was reported by the council. An unencrypted, non-password
protected USB stick and CDs containing the sensitive personal information
of over 9,000 children and members of their families were taken.

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