Over half of UK adults have had their information stolen from or lost by local authorities and other public organisations.
According to the Information Commissioners Office, 30% of victims experienced emotional distress as a result of the data breach. Worryingly, one-quarter received no support from the organisations that failed to safeguard their details.
It’s now thought that 55% of British adults have been involved in some type of data breach involving a local authority or public body. In 2024 major incidents were reported by Scottish National Records, Leicester City Council, NHS, and the Electoral Register, among others. In some instances, human error was implicated, including the use of insecure passwords at Hackney Borough Council.
‘We trust organisations with some of the most sensitive personal information imaginable, yet these data breaches continue to happen,’ said Information Commissioner John Edwards.
‘This is not just an admin error – it is about people. When data is mishandled, it can have serious and long-lasting consequences, particularly for people in vulnerable situations. We need organisations across the country to do better,’ he continued.
The comments come at a time when pressure is mounting on the Labour government to redouble the UK’s ‘stagflation’ battered economy with Prime Minister Keir Starmer increasingly looking to technology to improve efficiency and cut costs. This includes today’s announcement of ‘turbocharged’ AI delivery ushering in ‘a decade of renewal’ powered by smart systems. The so-called Plan for Change also includes creating ‘AI Growth Zones’, where infrastructure will be prioritised, and has so far triggered £14billion worth of private investment, which will in turn create 13,250 jobs across the country.
More on data management:
National Databank access expands to overcome digital exclusion at Christmas
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