How firms and fraudsters deal in data

[gkd_uk]

With computerised databases long established in large organisations, a series of policies and practices has grown up to safeguard the sensitive data they contain - in theory.

In the front line of these safeguards are the strictures laid down by the Data Protection Act which is policed by the Information Commissioner.

The Act details what workers can and cannot do with sensitive data and how it must be treated as well as what staff should do to ensure it is not compromised.

In a statement issued after the HMRC data loss was made public Richard Thomas, the information commissioner, said his organisation was already investigating two other breaches at the government department.

"Searching questions need to be answered about systems, procedures and human error inside both HMRC and the National Audit Office," said Mr Thomas.

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