Over the last few years there have been a string of high-profile data breachesThe ICO defines a personal data breach as an incident that leads to “the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data”. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PAThe most basic type of personal data is your name and email address. In July it emerged that British Airways had settled a legal claim by some of those affected by its 2018 data breach. In 2016 the high court awarded damages ranging from £2,500 to £12,500 to six asylum seekers for privacy and data protection law breaches after their personal data was accidentally published on the Home Office website. Handily for consumers and claims firms, companies can’t hide their failings: under the law, all organisations are required to report personal data breaches to the relevant authority within a certain period.

Source: The Guardian December 12, 2021 01:32 UTC