All posts
6.07.17
Defamation, privacy and harassment on WhatsApp: a new legal frontier?
Part of the appeal of WhatsApp, the instant messaging service, is that it allows you to join groups from which you can send messages and pictures to other participants across the globe with relative ease and at no cost. Gone are the days when parties or other social events are organised by email or invitations…
Read more17.06.17
UEA in student data leak
The University of East Anglia (UEA) has admitted accidentally sending an email containing students’ highly sensitive personal information to 298 American Studies undergraduates. The email in question attached a spreadsheet which contained “extenuating circumstances” justifying extensions for work and other academic concessions. These are understood to include details of illnesses, bereavements and other personal matters….
Read more8.03.17
Breach of privacy: The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse discloses victims' identities in email error
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (‘IICSA’) has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office (‘ICO’) after accidentally disclosing the identities of 90 victims of sexual abuse who had signed up via its website. The website allowed victims to submit information to IICSA on a confidential basis. Unfortunately, the IICSA sent each victim a ’round robin’ email which…
Read more1.02.17
GMC urges increased caution over release of medical records to solicitors
The General Medical Council (GMC) has issued updated guidelines (to come into force on 25 April 2017) providing a stricter and definitive means of determining whether or not to disclose confidential medical information. The Guidance, which can be found here, contains eight principles of good practice in handling patient information and includes a requirement to…
Read more29.11.16
Is a police investigation a private matter?
A recent decision by Nicol J in ERY v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2016] EWHC 2760 (QB) has found that a suspect in a police investigation has a reasonable expectation of privacy which is likely to trump the press’s right to freedom of expression. Earlier this year, police investigating suspected financial crime raided the premises of…
Read more27.11.16
Sex hookup site targeted in world’s second largest data breach
The dating and online pornography company Friend Finder Networks has been hacked, potentially exposing private details of more than 412 million accounts. The leaks emanated from AdultFriendFinder, whose website describes it as ‘The hottest Dating, Hookup and Sex Community’. Its sister sites Cams.com, Penthouse.com, Stripshow.com and iCams.com were also targeted. At least 5.2 million UK…
Read more26.08.16
IPSO launches new arbitration scheme for claims against the press
Earlier this month the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) announced that it was starting a year-long arbitration pilot scheme for resolving disputes against the press. The scheme officially started on 26 July 2016 and will be run by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR). Organisations that have signed up voluntarily to the scheme include…
Read more14.08.16
Asylum seekers awarded privacy damages following data leak
In the case of TLT and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Home Secretary was ordered to pay a total of £39,500 to six asylum seekers whose confidential information was accidentally published on the Home Office website. The information remained on the website for two weeks before being taken down. Mr…
Read more11.08.16
Police pay out £75,000 in privacy damages after using 999 call for training
Greater Manchester Police have agreed to pay a victim of domestic violence £75,000 in compensation after using a recording of her distressed 999 call together with other information that identified her and her medical history in training exercises. The claimant had consented to the 999 tape being used for training purposes, but only on an anonymous basis. The claimant brought a…
Read more30.06.16
Sir Cliff Richard investigation highlights issues with pre-charge bail
Sir Cliff Richard is one of many famous faces to have been investigated for allegations of historic sex abuse, with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service ultimately taking no further action. Although Sir Cliff was never arrested or charged, his ordeal brings into question tactics that are being deployed by police and the necessity for reform regarding…
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Articles are intended as an introduction to the topic and do not constitute legal advice.
