ICO to investigate Essex Council computer breach

Category: Computer Investigations

23 August, 2012

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will investigate a data breach by Essex County Council that exposed hundreds of vulnerable people to identity theft.

Computer investigations will be carried out to establish the precise nature of the security breach, in which a council employee is alleged to have shared documents with a computer outside of the council premises.

An ICO spokesperson said: "We will be making enquiries into the circumstances of the alleged breach of the Data Protection Act before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken."

Essex Council will be carrying out its own investigation into the security breach.

"Whilst an ex-employee had signed a declaration stating they had deleted the information and not shared it with anyone, it is our duty to inform service users that their information has been compromised," a council statement said.

There is not believed to have been any malicious intent behind the incorrect use of data, while the threat of identity theft is also believed to be minimal.

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