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UK admits losing data of 3
million people
Reuters
Monday December 17, 2007
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government suffered new
embarrassment over missing data on Monday when it revealed one
of its contractors had lost the details of 3 million learner drivers.
The revelation came weeks after the government admitted it had
lost computer discs containing the names and bank account details
of 25 million people, exposing nearly half the population to possible
fraud and identity theft.
The opposition Conservatives accused the government of incompetence
over the data loss, the latest in a series of mishaps that have
caused the popularity of Brown's six-month-old government to plunge.
(Article continues below)
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly told parliament a private contractor
reported in May that a hard disc drive had gone missing from a
facility in Iowa in the United States.
It contained the names, addresses and other details of more than
three million candidates for a theory test taken by learner drivers
in Britain. The disc drive did not contain any bank account or
credit card details, Kelly said.
"I apologize for any uncertainty or concern that these individuals
may experience," she said.
She also revealed that two discs containing the details of 7,500
vehicles and the names and addresses of their owners had been
lost in transit.
She announced steps to tighten up the security of personal data
held by government agencies.
Conservative transport spokeswoman Theresa Villiers said the
loss was "further evidence of systemic failure in the government's
handling of private data, evidence of a basic lack of competence
by this government".
Full
article here.
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