October

"Companies operating in markets in which businesses can gain a competitive advantage from offering enhanced privacy protections to customers are less likely to be the subject of enforcement action over breaches of data protection laws, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has said. The UK's data protection watchdog has published a Data Protection Regulatory Action Policy that sets out the factors it will take into account when deciding whether to initiate regulatory action. The ICO said that it will be selective about which breach cases to pursue regulatory action in and that ""market factors"" could influence its decision whether to take up an investigation. ""Our approach will be driven by concerns about significant actual or potential detriment caused by non-compliance with data protection principles, the PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) or other relevant legal requirements,"" the ICO's Policy said. ""The initial drivers will usually be: issues of general public concern, concerns that arise because of the novel or intrusive nature of particular activities, concerns raised with us in complaints that we receive, and concerns that become apparent through our other activities."" Under its existing information rights strategy, the ICO pledged to focus its regulatory attention on organisations operating in the health, credit and finance, criminal justice, Internet and mobile services and security sectors. "

"The blacklisting of workers should be made a criminal offence punishable by jail and unlimited fines, trade unions have said. The call follows an announcement by the TUC that there will be a national day of action in support of workers who have been blacklisted. Blacklisting was discovered in 2009 when thousands of names, mainly construction workers, were found on a list held by the Consulting Association when its offices were raided by the Government's data watchdog. Unions claim that workers have been denied employment, often for raising health and safety issues or for being union activists. The TUC is unhappy that companies who have blacklisted workers have still not been held accountable. ""Blacklisting is a shameful practice that has no place in a modern society,"" said general secretary, Frances O'Grady. ""It causes misery for those blacklisted and their families and it puts lives at risk."" The TUC also said all companies must be asked if they have ever complied, used, sold or supplied information that could be used for blacklisting. It said if they refuse to comply and compensate victims, and if they have engaged in blacklisting, then they should be barred from bidding for any public sector contracts."

"Use of fake identity details, or the impersonation of an innocent victim (identity fraud) now accounts for 52% of all fraud. That is according to frauds recorded by cross-sector members of CIFAS - the UK fraud prevention trade association, during the past 12 months. ""CIFAS has long highlighted that data is the cornerstone of the fraudster's trade,"" said Richard Hurley, CIFAS Communications Manager. ""With two thirds of all recorded fraud now relating to the abuse of identity details, the message is clearer than ever, ?said Hurley. ""Organisations and individuals must develop new ways of safeguarding their personal data, otherwise they effectively provide the fraudster with a licence to steal money."" CIFAS says that you can reduce the risk of your details falling into criminal hands by keeping your personal details to yourself. Here are some tips: Treat your personal details as something to be looked after. If you use social networking sites, limit the amount of information you give away and activate tough privacy settings. Only enter your personal details into secure websites belonging to organisations you know and trust. Make sure your computer has an up-to-date firewall and is protected by anti-virus and anti-spyware programmes. ""Organisations must always play their part, and CIFAS always calls for them to invest in strong preventative measures to combat fraud,"" adds Hurley. ""But there is much that individuals themselves can do to help."""