Data security - Big Brother is not watching

THOUGH not on the scale of the débâcle unfolding in Britain, today’s story that Allied Irish Banks have sent around 15,000 letters to customers detailing transactions that never took place is very worrying.

The AIB letters have told some customers that five-figure sums have been lodged to their accounts on the foot of transactions that never took place. The letter contains details — account numbers and names — of the both parties to imagined transactions and open the possibility of identity theft.

In Britain HM Revenue and Customs are responsible for unencrypted discs missing in the post. These discs contain the names, addresses and account details of around 25 million people.

Earlier this week Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes warned that we should be concerned about the integrity of our data protection systems, government or otherwise.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Revenue Commissioners have already reported individual breaches and inappropriate access of files by employees. Any other breakdown in security regarding personal details, related to banking or government departments, would be most unwelcome.

It is entirely appropriate to believe that personal details revealed to government or business are treated with the greatest respect and that every effort is made to keep them secure.

Yesterday’s admission by AIB and the Revenue scandal in Britain — as well as the supposition that none of our government departments or agencies have suffered a similar breach — suggest that we need to be far more considerate and circumspect about sharing our personal details.

It seems that Big Brother is not watching as he should — maybe others are.