Gardaí accessed celebrities’ sensitive personal data without good reason
Billy Hawkes said two high-profile celebrities had their records accessed over 80 times and more than 50 times respectively by members of the force.
In addition, individual gardaí accessed the records of three well-known media personalities and a top inter-county GAA player.
Mr Hawkes said “prurient interest” was the main reason behind the inappropriate access, rather than disclosure to third parties. Nevertheless, he said his office treated the issue as a “matter of urgency” with the Garda Commissioner.
In his annual report for 2012, Mr Hawkes said his team had conducted a detailed audit of the Garda Pulse computer system over the last two years, following the adoption of a code of practice on the issue by the force.
As part of this, his office conducted ad-hoc inspections of usage and access of Pulse in relation to public figures and celebrities who were recorded as victims or witnesses.
He said given the sensitivity of personal data on the Pulse system, the public had the right to expect very high standards. But, he said, in this case, and others, the Gardaí “fell well below” those standards.
However, he pointed out that Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan responded promptly to their concerns and issued a directive last December instructing members they had to detail the reason for their enquiries about individuals on Pulse.
In addition, new layers of supervision and internal inspection have been put in place.
Mr Hawkes said the celebrities concerned did not suffer any damage as a result of the access.
He said a more serious issue in relation to the Gardaí was the disclosure of personal data outside the force. There is at least one live investigation, he said.
The report also detailed the results of an audit into the Department of Social Protection’s INFOSYS database which uncovered “significant breaches” of the data protection legislation in relation to access to and governance of personal data.
The database holds 7.7m client records and holds details of payment and record information.
The audits of the Department of Social Welfare and the Gardaí were just two of 40 audits conducted in 2012, seven more than 2011.
In total, the office conduction 1,349 investigations following complaints, an increase of 188 on 2011.
Complaints over electronic direct marketing accounted for 45% of cases, with complaints regarding inappropriate access to personal data accounting for 33%.
The report said complaints were resolved amicably in the vast majority of cases.
* Full report on www.dataprotection.ie
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
