Category: News

In a way that mirrors the undertakings signed by UK data controllers, six U.S. businesses have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that they deceived consumers by falsely claiming they were abiding by the EU/U.S. Safe Harbor framework.  According to six separate complaints filed by the FTC, the six companies deceptively claimed they held current certifications under the Safe Harbor framework. The framework is a voluntary program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce in consultation with the

According to Monday’s Guardian: “Home Office climbs down over keeping DNA records on innocent”. On the same day the BBC reported: “The government has dropped plans to give ministers wide powers on holding innocent people's DNA data on record”.  Both news outlets reported the Government’s actions to withdraw clauses on DNA retention in terms of a victory for civil liberties. ‘Scuse me – I think these journalists have jumped the gun. The Policing and Crime Bill had proposed providing Ministers

I might be old fashioned, but I think it’s OK for the police to retain those criminal records they need to do their job. So I am not surprised by yesterday’s Appeal Court decision that allowed them to do so, even when there were disclosures of trivial and ancient criminal details for employment purposes. For example, the Appeal Court considered the case of HP, who in March 1984 was 16 years of age. He stole items from a display in

So the Government has finally published its consultation on whether or not there should be custodial sanctions relating to selling or offering to sell personal data that have been unlawfully obtained (i.e. without the consent of the data controller). At the moment, the offence under section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998 is non-custodial with a £5,000 fine maximum. The Government is consulting on whether or not the maximum summary penalty at the Magistrates Court should be increased to

It used to be the Data Protection Act, but now it appears that the Human Rights Act has caught the disease described by the statement: “we can’t do anything because of the Human Rights Act”. Dominic Grieve, Shadow Minister of Justice, has just contracted the infection. He said yesterday at the Conservative Party Conference: “How many times have we seen police or probation officers say they can’t disclose the identity of a criminal because of his privacy under the Human

One of the points not reported in connection with the horrific crimes of paedophile Venessa George  is the failure of the comprehensive vetting system. The reason: there was no record of her involvement in such activities. She wasn’t even uncovered by staff at the nursery (why? – another question), but picked up when the police arrested another individual who had retained copies of electronic communications linked to her. If that person had been more careful, then most likely George would