Hammersmith and Fulham Council, located in west London, faced scrutiny after personal data of over 6,500 individuals, including sensitive information concerning children, was inadvertently left online for nearly two years. This breach occurred when the council responded to a Freedom of Information request in October 2021, publishing documents that included personal details across hidden workbooks. The issue was finally revealed in November 2023 when a review by What Do They Know? identified the data, prompting the council to rectify the mistake swiftly. The ICO emphasized the sensitive nature of the impacted data, especially concerning unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
The breach affected 6,528 people, including sensitive data about 2,342 children. The data was published in response to a Freedom of Information request and left online for almost two years.
The Information Commissioner's Office stated that the council had taken remedial steps including updating redaction and disclosure guidance and providing training to relevant staff.
#data-breach #personal-information #freedom-of-information #hammersmith-and-fulham-council #information-commissioners-office
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