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| CURRENT SECTION :: News | UK's most visited IT Contractor Site - 250k unique visitors March 2008 |
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Most of the British public have no confidence in the way private and public sector bodies are handling their personal confidential details. Such is the verdict of a nationwide survey of 1000 people that shows consumer confidence in how private data are used has been hit by high-profile data lapses. Last year HM Revenue & Customs lost the confidential details of 25million people, before similar but smaller scale data losses by the MoD and a DVLA contractor. Since then, more than 85% of us now check bank statements more regularly, while a similar number of us refuse to give out personal details wherever possible. The overall result is that eight out of ten people now take greater care with their personal information, says the survey, commissioned by the privacy watchdog. But three-quarters of those surveyed worried more about falling victim to data theft than ever before, and most felt powerless about how it is used by organisations. Reflecting on the positive side, the Information Commissioner’s Office said consumers appear to be waking up to their rights to privacy, and at crucial time. “As more and more personal information is collected, the risk grows that some information will be inaccurate, out of date or end up in the wrong hands,” said David Smith, deputy commissioner at the ICO. All consumers were encouraged to check how organisations are storing their personal details to ensure their rights under the Data Protection Act are not being breached. The office has published a user friendly guide to data protection rights which includes a data protection checklist of questions to ask of organisations. “For any of us to have trust in an organisation we must be confident that our information is held securely and processed in line with data protection rules,” Mr Smith said. “If we all regularly start to ask the right questions then organisations will respond to public demand and take the protection of our personal information more seriously.” Organisations which fail to recognise the importance of data laws were warned they risk losing business and action by the ICO, in the shape of fines or prosecutions or both. Mar 20, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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