Tag Archives: United Kingdom

UK Parliament Calls for Prison Sentences for Data Theft

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

Members of Parliament on the House of Commons Justice Select Committee have called for courts in the United Kingdom to be given greater powers to imprison and fine individuals who breach the Data Protection Act (“DPA”). The Committee stated in its October 18, 2011 report that the current penalties for unlawfully obtaining personal data (under Section 55 of the DPA) are an inadequate deterrent, and urged the government to exercise its power to introduce prison sentences without delay. Although currently a magistrates’ court can issue fines of up to £5,000 for breaches of Section 55 (and the Crown Court can impose unlimited fines), in practice, penalties often are limited to only a few hundred pounds.

Tags: Christopher Graham, Data Protection Act, Information Commissioners Office, Penalty, United Kingdom

UK Information Tribunal Rules Properly Anonymized Personal Data Can Be Disclosed Under FOIA

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On September 7, 2011, the United Kingdom Information Tribunal published a decision that appears to resolve the long-running uncertainty regarding the extent to which anonymized personal information may be disclosed under the UK’s Freedom of Information legislation. The UK’s FOIA was introduced and applicable to most of the UK in 2000, with equivalent law following for Scotland in 2002.

Tags: Anonymization, Data Controller, Freedom of Information Act, United Kingdom

Hunton & Williams Expands Privacy Practice in London with the Addition of Rosemary Jay

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

Hunton & Williams announces that Rosemary Jay, formerly head of the privacy practice at Pinsent Masons and the former head of the legal team at the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, will join the firm’s Privacy and Data Security practice in October. Ms. Jay will be based in the firm’s London office. As a senior lawyer, Ms. Jay will bring more than 20 years of data protection experience to Hunton & Williams, enhancing both the firm’s renowned privacy practice and its Centre for Information Policy Leadership. Read the news release.

Tags: Bridget Treacy, Information Commissioners Office, United Kingdom

UK ICO Says Private Sector “Isn’t as Good as It Thinks It Is”

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On September 14, 2011, UK Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said that the private sector “isn’t as good as it thinks it is” when it comes to data protection compliance, and that many of the compliance problems that arise originate in the private sector. While giving evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee, the Commissioner criticized the private sector and, in particular, banks and other financial services companies.

Tags: Consumer Protection, Data Controller, Information Commissioners Office, Penalty, United Kingdom

Lush Avoids ICO Fine After Website Data Breach

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

Lush Cosmetics Ltd. (“Lush”) has avoided a monetary penalty for its breach of the UK Data Protection Act 1998. Instead, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (the “ICO”) has required Lush to sign an undertaking that obliges the company to “ensure that future customer credit card data will be processed in accordance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.”

Tags: Consumer Protection, Information Commissioners Office, Payment Card, PCI DSS, Penalty, United Kingdom

UK ICO’s Annual Report Shows Private Sector Companies Reported Most Security Breaches in 2010/11

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On July 6, 2011, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (the “ICO”) released its Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2010/11. Characterizing information as “the currency of democracy,” the report highlights the wide range of the ICO’s activities during the last twelve months, which focused on education and the provision of good practice guidance in addition to enforcement activities.

Tags: Christopher Graham, Consumer Protection, Information Commissioners Office, United Kingdom

EU Commissioner Reding Signals Intention to Introduce Mandatory Data Breach Notification

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

Speaking at the British Bankers’ Association’s Data Protection and Privacy Conference in London on June 20, 2011, Viviane Reding, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, signaled her intention to streamline data protection to “simplify the regulatory environment” and “substantially reduce the administrative burden” for businesses. In return, Reding expects businesses to ensure “safe and transparent digital products and services.”

Tags: Consumer Protection, E-Privacy Directive, EU Member States, European Commission, Telecommunications, United Kingdom, Viviane Reding

Over 73,000 GBP Recouped from Former T-Mobile Employees Following Data Theft

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

Two former employees of mobile phone provider T-Mobile have been ordered by a court in the United Kingdom to pay £73,700 (approximately $120,000) for the theft of T-Mobile customers’ personal data. The Chester Crown Court ordered David Turley and Darren Hames to pay £45,000 and £28,700 respectively, under confiscation orders, along with prosecution costs.

Tags: Christopher Graham, Consumer Protection, Data Protection Act, Information Commissioners Office, United Kingdom

Hunton Hosts Webinar on Preparing for the EU Cookie Law

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On June 6, 2011, Hunton & Williams hosted a panel discussion on what organizations in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands are doing to comply with the EU’s new cookie law. The webinar, Consent for Cookies: Preparing for the EU Cookie Law, featured David Evans, Group Manager of Business and Industry of the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, and Hunton & Williams Brussels-based associates Olivier Proust, Dr. Jörg Hladjk and Martijn ten Bloemendal. The panel was moderated by Bridget C. Treacy, partner in the London office of Hunton & Williams. Listen to the webinar now.

Tags: Bridget Treacy, Cookies, France, Germany, Information Commissioners Office, Jörg Hladjk, Netherlands, Opt-In Consent, United Kingdom

UK Chancellor Kenneth Clarke Discusses Data Protection Issues

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On May 26, 2011, the United Kingdom’s Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke spoke before the EU Committee of the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium. His remarks focused on data protection, a subject he characterized as one “heavily on the agenda” in Brussels and in many EU Member States. Clarke emphasized his own role as a proponent of data protection and a defender of civil liberties and individual freedom, and discussed the introduction into Parliament of a major bill to enhance individual freedom in the UK. Key measures in the bill, many of which respond to issues raised over the past few years by the UK Information Commissioner, include:

Greater independence for the Information Commissioner
Safeguards against misuse of counter-terrorism stop and search powers
Further regulation of the use of closed-circuit television monitoring
Reform of the regulations governing vetting and barring of ex-offenders and persons working with children and vulnerable adults

Tags: Accountability, APEC, CCTV, Information Commissioners Office, Legislation, OECD, United Kingdom

Privacy and Information Security Law Blog - Global privacy and information security law updates and analysis

Tag Archives: United Kingdom

UK Parliament Calls for Prison Sentences for Data Theft

UK Information Tribunal Rules Properly Anonymized Personal Data Can Be Disclosed Under FOIA

Hunton & Williams Expands Privacy Practice in London with the Addition of Rosemary Jay

UK ICO Says Private Sector “Isn’t as Good as It Thinks It Is”

Lush Avoids ICO Fine After Website Data Breach

UK ICO’s Annual Report Shows Private Sector Companies Reported Most Security Breaches in 2010/11

EU Commissioner Reding Signals Intention to Introduce Mandatory Data Breach Notification

Over 73,000 GBP Recouped from Former T-Mobile Employees Following Data Theft

UK Chancellor Kenneth Clarke Discusses Data Protection Issues

Published By Hunton & Williams

Search

Subscribe

Topics

Recent Updates

Blogroll

Privacy News