The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Lords defy Government by proposing criminalisation of data rogues

The Other Steve

Once again... 

... a largely undemocratic institution of hereditary peers and political appointees is actually doing a better job of representing the interests of UK citizens than the feckless wasters that we elected to do it.

And the idiots wonder why no one wants them to disband the Lords.

Bronek Kozicki

step in the right direction 

Coat

Now, when ID fraud will actually become a crime?

dervheid

And Once again... 

Black Helicopters

our elected 'representatives' are doing everything they possibly can to deny Joe Public adequate protection from this shit!

And they still wonder WHY we're paranoid!

Anonymous Coward

Democracy sucks 

Lowest common denominator.

It's a strange world where I have infinitely more respect for the House of Lords than the Commons.

Anigel

one rule for them another for us 

now wait for the government to vote itself and all council data sharers immunity

Rachel Greenham

Unelected but... 

Remind me again why we wanted the Lords to be abolished?

Anonymous Coward

Symptoms first 

Well, it would have the effect of reducing the data loss statistics OK - nobody would ever admit to any loss in future.

dave

business friendly 

Thumb Up

They would rather save business a few quid than make life better for people. Even when the same people running those businesses are equally liable to be affected by such things as id theft and data loss as joe public. Donations make the world go round!

Kevin Johnston

Intentionally disclose? 

Doesn't that sound rather like a certain ISP/Interceptor combo recently not in the news enough recently? Surely BT intentionally disclose personal information to Phorm. Could this be a handy way to negate them using their current viewpoint with RIPA?

Dazed and Confused

There's no chance of this becoming law 

Let's face it the Gov are totally against the principal of accountability. They need to be, or someone might point it at them one day.

The issue of non reporting would need to be dealt with in the same way that California do, make it illegal to withhold information about breaches. Make the punishment for withholding more sever, draconian preferably, and then there will be an incentive for companies to come forward.

Maurice Shakeshaft

How would this affect Phorm? 

Would this legislation mean BT, Phorm and the rest would be required to positively obtain assent prior to pimping my data - or have a prolonged porridge diet?

Simon.W

This crap government will do anything to... 

Flame

stop this because they know they'll be the first against the wall when the legislation comes.

There are no practical reasons for stopping this legislation, I.T. and data about people have been around for over thirty years. It's time us "data subjects" had some protection; but because of this government's "self preservation first" policy we'll all continue to be exposed to data mismanagement until - well, who knows when.

I'm glad the Lords are still with us, but without a doubt we'll see Labour whipping out the parliament act once again. What a bunch of ar$e-covering, lillylivered arrogant f*ck wits stepping on us to protect themselves.

Steve Woods

If this amendment makes it through in the final act... 

I hope its provisions are made retrospective so there will be some redress for all those whose details have been mislaid by incompetent public servants in recent years.

Luther Blissett

The best-selling game in town 

Compare these transfers of undertakings: All liabilities for loss of personal data from whatever causes, loss of monies from fraud, loss of liberty, etc to be borne by the individual. All accruals from the acquisition of personal data from whatever causes, of monies from fraud, of liberties at the expense of the individual, etc to remain the property of the corporatist state. Not just a tendency, but almost a full blown reality.

Grand Theft Auto to the power of Aleph Null.

The Nu Insect Overlards have a clear embarrassment in the current dead man walking. Unlike their previous favourite, this one is quite incapable of convincing the public that black is white and white is black. It is looking less and less likely they will want to wait 2 years to promote him out of the way.

Meanwhile, the game goes on.

Anonymous Coward

MPs 

Black Helicopters

The way I see it the Lords don't have to worry about the next election to keep their job, so they can actually decide for themselves which option is the better without worrying too much what people think of their eligibility. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong, but they are just human and more often than not seem to get it "right" (I know that concept is subjective...)

MPs on the other hand actually have to worry about if they'll be MPs after the next election as soon as they're elected. This means that if asking people for their opinions makes them look weak ("Look, he doesn't have his own opinion, why should he be an MP?" from other parties, media, joe public) they wont ask and just follow their party line of least resistance.

Andy

@"step in the right direction" 

"Now, when ID fraud will actually become a crime?"

No, no. How would we keep the government from getting the data to lose in the first place?

Mark

Re: Symptoms first 

Heck, before this law was proposed, you never heard about data loss until some nosey parker poked their oar in and didn't shut up like a nice little consumer.

And if you sit on the data loss, that's pretty much a signal that the data loss was intentional. After all, we all make mistakes.

Spleen

Re: Rachel Greenham 

Class.

Given the nature of your question, by "we" you presumably mean "the governing political party".

Anonymous Coward

Lost or leaked 

Dead Vulture

If data on a CD is copied from a central source and this disk is misplaced either intentionally or unintentionally sureyl a point of law could be agrued that this is not data loss as the data is still there.

You can hear the coporate lawyers thinking up there cases for the defense already "change the wording to leakage immediatley".

Come to think of it it won't be the head honchos that are driving efficiencies by cutting IT security and opporational budget that gets spanked over it. It will be some poor Schmo ......so the lawyers probabley won't bother.

When will they realise the threat of imprisonment should be targetted at the board if this were the case, they would never think to question common sense security practices or processes.

Kanhef

re: The best-selling... 

Does amanfromMars have a protégé now?

It's good to see that some people outside the IT field recognize the problem and are trying to do something about it.

Anonymous Coward

Excellent news ! 

I shall keep my fingers crossed that this law is approved and then we shall see how all the incompetent and malicious disclosures of personal data feel when they end up in Court.

trackSuit

Lawks a Lordy, Maudie! 

Boffin

They have ears and they can think and they are in government. Listening to the public and delivering, by means of Leadership Future Solutions to ITs problems. Some heap big Intel below those GreWigs.

I used to love listening to them on 'A Week in Parliament'. Is that Radio Program(-me?) still being broadcast?

Dave Bell

Needs a lawyer 

Terms such as "recklessly" have some specific legal meanings. It might not apply to as many cases as we might hope.

But if your boss wants you to dump data on a CD and bung it in the mail, get it in writing.

Florence Stanfield

Good news for the public. 

This is good news for the public if Labour block this then you will have the sign they intend to make Britian the next Russia or China. Time to show them who votes them in power can also vote them out..

Thank you to the House of Lords for fighting this through, shame on all Labour MPs who are trying to stop this..

Ken Hagan

@Simon W. 

"I'm glad the Lords are still with us, but without a doubt we'll see Labour whipping out the parliament act once again."

Er, unless the last Labour manifesto included a pledge to lose all our personal data, I don't see that the Parliament Act would apply.